0923_2022_BVXN

NORTH EDITION: Grafton, Millbury, Sutton, Upton 

NORTH EDITION: Grafton, Millbury, Sutton, Upton 

BLACKSTONE BLACKSTONE VALLEY VALLEY 

CROSSTOWN ADS AND BUSINESS NEWS 

September 23 - October 21, 2022 

Small Stones Festival of Arts 

rich in variety for 2022 

BY DANA WILSON 

The fifth annual Small Stones 

Festival of the Arts offers a 

diverse variety of literature, 

music and arts-related programming 

including a juried exhibit 

of fine art painting and photography 

at three venues in Grafton. 

Extended festival hours run from 

October 14 through the 23rd. 

As a prelude to the Festival, 

and a fundraiser for the event 

itself, a fun block party—Gazebo 

Palooza—was held in and around 

CROSSTOWN ADS AND BUSINESS NEWS 

the Grafton Town Common 

on September 17th. Food from 

Bushel ‘N Peck, Cancuns Family 

Mexican Restaurant, Grafton 

Grill & Crust, The Grafton Inn, 

Pepperoni Express, Post Office 

Pub, Reunion Table & Tap and 

Vendors including those offering food are a staple of Gazebo Palooza, the 2022 version of 

which was held September 17th as a fundraiser for the fifth annual Small Stones Festival 

of the Arts in Grafton. Photo by Jennifer Paluzzi. 

the Town House Tavern was 

featured at Gazebo Palooza along 

with music from the Town House 

Tavern’s patio with Steve Richards 

emceeing. 

All proceeds from Gazebo 

Palooza go towards the Smal 

Stones Festival of the Arts, which 

continues to grow. 

Five regional arts organizations 

– Apple Tree Arts, the Worcester 

County Camera Club, the Blackstone 

Valley Art Association, the 

Shakespeare Club of Grafton and 

Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra 

have collaborated to create this 

year’s fine art and photography 

SSFA. 

Exhibit hours are Saturday, 

October 15 and October 22, 11:00 

a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, October 

16 and October 23, noon to 4:00 

p.m. 

Weekday hours run Wednesday, 

October 19 to Friday, 

October 21, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The 

painting and photography exhibit 

will be held at the Great Hall, 

Apple Tree Arts, One Grafton 

Common, Grafton. 

The Claflin Hill Symphony 

Orchestra Chamber players will 

present a lecture and demonstration 

concert on Saturday evening, 

October 15, 7:00 p.m. at the Congregational 

Church of Grafton, 30 

Grafton Common. 

The principal string musicians 

of the CSHO will deconstruct a 

Mozart string quartet demonstrating 

the classical form and 

structure. Then, they will perform 

the entire piece. The quartet, 

joined by Paul Surapine, found- 

SMALL STONES 

continued on page 2 

formerly The Yankee Xpress 

formerly The Yankee Xpress 

Mulhane Home for 

Funerals marks 150 

years as a town asset 

BY ROD LEE 

Few people can say with 

certainty what the town of 

Millbury felt and looked like 

one hundred fifty years ago. But 

this much we know: Mulhane 

Home for Funerals opened for 

business in 1872, and is still going 

strong today. 

Stuart Mulhane and his son 

Matthew are not making a big 

deal about the 150th anniversary, 

or the fact that they are the 

INSIDE 

INSIDE 

PRSRT STD 

ECRWSS 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Boston, MA 

Permit No. 55800 

The Buck Homestead on Main Street in Millbury, home of Mulhane Home for Funerals 

since 1938. 

fourth and fifth generation care 

keepers of an enterprise that 

has demonstrated staying power 

while earning the respect of the 

communities it serves. 

Like the family itself, the former 

Buck Homestead at 45 Main 

St. in the heart of Millbury Center—the 

only address Mulhane 

has known since being purchased 

by Joseph Mulhane and his son 

MULHANE 


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2 The Blackstone Valley Xpress • www.blackstonevalleyxpress.com • September 23, 2022 

SMALL STONES 

continued from page 1 

ing executive and artistic 

director of the CHSO, will 

perform Mozart’s “Quintet 

for Clarinet and String.” 

The literary track, organized 

by The Shakespeare 

Club of Grafton will include 

three programs to be held at 

the newly imagined Grafton 

Public Library, 35 Grafton 

Common. 

“Shakespeare Now and 

Then” will be presented 

Saturday, October 15 at 

3:00 p.m. by Helen Whall, 

English professor emerita of 

the College of Holy Cross. 

Dr. Whall questions why 

Shakespeare remains today? 

Why was he so successful in 

the 16th century? She will 

discuss how theatrical innovations 

helped liberate the 

English language and how 

89 Southbridge St. 

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(across from Sword St.) 

Vacuums 

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events that occurred during 

his time run parallel with 

similar occurrences in the 

20th and 21st centuries. 

Whall asks us to wonder 

why today’s public continues 

to produce and read 

Shakespeare while the once 

equally well-read epics of 

Homer, Virgil, and Milton 

are now neglected? Part of 

the reason, she 

speculates, is because they 

are NOT theater. But it’s 

also, she argues, because 

of Shakespeare’s literary 

genius that his popularity 

and influence on living art 

continues. 

Nicholas Gage, the 

award-winning New 

York Times investigative 

reporter, author of seven acclaimed 

books and producer 

of the Oscar nominated 

film “The Godfather Part 

III,” will present “A Writer’s 

Odyssey,” a personal recollection 

of his storied career 

on October 21 at 7:00 p.m. 

His early literary 

work, “Eleni,” a searing 

account of his mother ‘s 

life and death during the 

Greek Civil War, has been 

translated into thirty-two 

languages, made into a film, 

and was hailed by critics 

as “one of the rare books 

in which the power of art 

re-creates the full historical 

truth.“ His coming-of-age 

memoir, “A Place for Us,” 

recounts his struggles to adjust 

to a new life as a young 

immigrant in Worcester in 

the 1950s. 

Then step back into Victorian 

times at the performance 

of Victorian Gossip 

Girl: Annie Adams Fields, 

produced by History At 

Play, LLC. Mrs. Fields invites 

us to a humorous, intimate 

tea party at her “waterside 

museum” in Beacon 

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Hill. Wielding an incredible 

influence on literary decisions 

at Ticknor and Fields 

Publishing House, (forerunner 

to Houghton Mifflin 

Harcourt), she counted 

amongst her closest friends 

Nathaniel Hawthorne, 

Oliver Wendell Holmes and 

Charles Dickens. 

During the tea party, 

Mrs. Fields shares tales 

about her beloved friends, 

chronicled in her novel 

“Authors and Friends” published 

in 1896. The evening 

is filled with tales of Victorian 

revelry, laughter, and 

even some blushing cheeks. 

Victorian Gossip Girl is 

produced and performed 

by Judith Kalaora, a 

professional educator, 

award-winning playwright, 

producer and living historian. 

Founder and Artistic 

Director Kalaora created 

History At Play, LLC to 

educate and entertain audiences 

young and old with 

an emphasis on influential 

and often forgotten figures. 

The performance will be 

held Saturday, October 22 at 

7:00 p.m. 

Artists will learn the 

basics of how to bring their 

art to market at our program 

“How to Market Your 

Art” presented by Michael 

Rose, gallery manager of 

the historic Providence Art 

Club. Rose has a wealth 

of in-depth professional 

knowledge and resources 

on how to be successful 

when marketing to galleries 

and auction houses. 

This thorough lecture will 

provide inspiration and 

direction for artists who 

are selling through their 

own studios as well. Join 

us October 19 at 6:00 p.m. 

for this presentation at the 

Great Hall, Apple Tree Arts, 

One Grafton Common. 

The popular artist and 

juror talks return Sunday, 

October 16 at 1:00 p.m. 

The artist discussions will 

center on their work while 

the juror’s presentations will 

provide insights about their 

thoughts and perspectives 

regarding their favorite 

festival artwork. 

The mission of the 

Small Stones Festival of 

the Arts is to elevate the 

practice and appreciation 

of fine art and photography 

in the Blackstone Valley 

and beyond. The Festival is 

produced under the aegis of 

fiscal sponsor, Grafton Arts, 

Inc., a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 

organization. 

Sponsors for the 2022 

Festival include Artscope, 

Gaudette Insurance, 

Grafton Cultural Council, 

Homefield Credit Union, 

JCSI, Jubilee Chocolate, 

Mass Cultural Council, 

Pepperoni Express, Roney 

Funeral Home, Sydney 

Padgett of Mathieu Newton 

Sotheby’s International 

Realty, Theroux Dental Associates, 

Katheleen Schaker 

of Touchstone Crystal, 

Town House Tavern at 

One Grafton Common and 

Yesod Foundation, Inc. 

Sponsorships are available 

to help support the 

2022 Festival. Please contact 

Chair Ken Crater at ken@ 

graftonarts.org. For more 

information, visit https:// 

smallstonesfestival.org. 

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Celebrated Author and Film 

Producer Nicholas Gage (left), 

pictured in his writing studio, is a 

headliner for the upcoming fifth 

annual Small Stones Festival of 

the Arts in Grafton. Mr. Gage has 

Worcester and Central Massachusetts-area 

roots. Among the other 

featured appearances will be those 

by Paul Surapine of the Claflin Hill 

Symphony Orchestra, Michael Rose 

who wil present on “how to market 

your art,” Annie Adams Fields with 

a step back into Victorian times 

and Judith Kalaora (inset) offering 

a production of “Victorian Gossip 

Girl.” Photos by Andy Weigl of 

Weigl Photography. 

Family Owned and Operated 

Published on Published Fridays, four on times 2nd a and month. 4th Direct Fridays mailed of the to 68,470 month. unique homes 

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Contributing writers and columnists: Peter Coyle, Tom D'Agostino, Magda Dakin, Christine Galeone 

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September 23, 2022 • www.blackstonevalleyxpress.com • The Blackstone Valley Xpress 3 

MULHANE 


Dennis Sr. in 1938—has 

stood the test of time. 

Besides extensive renovations 

that were undertaken 

between 1980 and 1993, 

the home has undergone 

more recent upgrades as 

well. 

CEO Kate Marcum. 

Matt Mulhane is an 

assistant football coach 

with the Sutton-Douglas 

program. He joined the 

Board of Directors of 

Millbury National Bank in 

2021. Like his dad, he is a 

member of the Millbury 

Lions Club. 

Stu Mulhane is also a 

decorated military veteran 

explains why both institutions 

are doing well. 

Small-business activity is 

picking up, post-pandemic, 

Mr. Latino said. 

“Covid limited their 

business,” he said, of Mulhane 

Home for Funerals. 

“Mulhane is an example of 

how small businesses” can 

adapt and move forward 

from adversity. 

Matt Mulhane said 

working in the funeral 

trade can be stressful. He 

has drawn on his father’s 

many years of experience 

to chart his own path. 

“We have tried to get 

the word out to let people 

know” about the 150th, he 

said. “People do come up 

to us and congratulate us. 

We’ve served generations 

and generations. Families 

talk about my grandfather.” 

With the improvements 

Stu Mulhane, left, joined Mulhane Home for Funerals in 1969. 

Matt Mulhane joined the family business in 2003. 

they have continued to 

make in the property, Stu 

and Matt Mulhane have 

stayed true to the original 

vision put forth by Joseph 

Mulhane and Dennis Sr., 

who chose the name “Mulhane 

Home for Funerals” 

as a way to make families 

feel comfortable in a welcoming 

environment. 

The funeral industry has 

changed, with different 

kinds of services for different 

people, Matt Mulhane 

said. Mulhane Home for 

Funerals understands this, 

and offers not only funeral 

services and memorial 

services but personal video 

tributes, customized online 

memorials, funeral 

pre-planning, sharing of 

service details with friends 

and family, burial, cremation 

and grief support. 

As Mr. Latino says, “they 

have changed a lot of the 

services to offer more, with 

technology.” 

“No one wants to come 

here,” Matt Mulhane acknowledges, 

of families’ reluctance 

to say goodbye to 

loved ones. “But everyone 

wants to do something.” 

Matthew actually started 

his career at Mulhane at a 

young age, doing “painting 

and small jobs.” 

Asked if he still takes 

on painting tasks, he says, 

“yes, when it’s called for.” 

Contact Rod Lee at 

rodlee.1963@gmail.com or 

774-232-2999. 

JOHN THE ROOFER CO. 

MA HIC # 111318 MA CSL # 97139 

Stuart Mulhane and his son Matthew greet spectators during a Fourth of 

July parade. 

“We have added additions 

and taken down walls 

to open up the area,” Matt 

Mulhane said on September 

12th. “We’ve made 

things as large as we can to 

accommodate any kind of 

service.” 

Stu Mulhane joined the 

company in 1969, Matt 

Mulhane in 2003, fresh out 

of Colby-Sawyer College 

with a Bachelor’s degree 

in Business Management. 

Matt became the company’s 

fifth fully licensed embalmer 

and funeral director in 

2009. 

Their credentials as 

prominent “Millburyites” 

and active members of a 

number of civic-minded 

organizations are a reflection 

of their commitment 

to municipal life. 

Stu Mulhane has affiliations 

with the Millbury 

Veterans Council, the 

Charles F. Minney VFW 

Post, Devoe-Taylor American 

Legion Post No. 9, the 

Millbury Lions Club, the 

St. Vincent de Paul Society 

of St. Brigid Church and 

Millbury National Bank. 

He has been on the 

Board of Directors of Millbury 

National Bank since 

1990, as was his father 

Dennis before him, according 

to MNB President and 

who received a Purple 

Heart for wounds incurred 

in action and the 

Bronze Star for meritorious 

achievement in 

ground operations against 

hostile forces while serving 

with the U.S. Army’s 

25th infantry division in 

Vietnam. 

Both Mulhanes are 

“well-connected in the 

community,” Ms. Marcum 

said on September 13th. 

Stuart is modest and reserved, 

Ms. Marcum said. 

“He is very quiet. He 

doesn’t like to be the center 

of attention. He does like 

chocolate though! That 

will get his attention! He 

is Steady Eddie, a big supporter 

of the elderly and 

the Lions Club.” 

John T. Latino Jr., VP 

and COO of Millbury 

National Bank, agrees with 

Ms. Marcum’s appraisal. 

“Stu is very humble but 

when he opens his mouth 

you should listen,” Mr. 

Latino said. 

Millbury National boasts 

impressive longevity of its 

own, having been founded 

in 1825. 

Mr. Latino said the bank 

and Mulhane Home for Funerals 

have adjusted to the 

difficulties imposed by the 

Covid-19 pandemic, which 

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Xpressly Yours ... a letter from the editor 

A motorcycle trip, a book … and stories to tell 

BY ROD LEE 

On the first page of his 

book 4 Strokes West, 

about an unforgettable 

motorcycle trip he took 

with two friends years ago, 

Mark DerMugrditchian of 

Northbridge writes “show 

me a person who always 

knows what comes next, 

and I’ll show you a person 

who may not know the exhilaration 

of uncertainty.” 

Like Mr. DerMugrditichian, 

I have an appreciation 

for how a motorcycle 

can change your life. Mine, 

most recently, was a 

Yamaha 650, sold several 

years ago to a young man 

from Connecticut who put 

it on a trailer on a dark 

and rainy night and drove 

off. 

The thrills I got tooling 

around the back roads 

of Central Massachusetts 

cannot compare to those 

my friend Mark enjoyed on 

what he calls “An Amazing 

American Adventure.” 

This was a long time ago, 

1976. “I had an idea, which 

then became a dream,” he 

writes. The personalities of 

himself and two buddies— 

Steve and Tom—were “a 

recipe for unpredictability. 

Get a Virgo, an Aries and 

another Aries in one room, 

and that’s what happens.” 

Recently, on the afternoon 

of August 11th, 

during an appearance at 

the Northbridge Senior 

Center, Mark shared with 

elders some remarks about 

the trip “The Bachelors 

Three” made from Massachusetts 

to California. 

He was introduced by the 

Senior Center’s program 

and volunteer coordinator, 

Amy Cowen, who, like 

Director Kelly Boll, was 

pleased to welcome a local 

author to Highland St. as 

part of the Senior Center’s 

ongoing lineup of activities 

and entertainment. 

Difficult as it is to write 

and market a book, 4 

Stuart & Matthew Mulhane 

45 North Main Street, Millbury • 508.865.2560 • www.mulhane.com 

Strokes West deserves the 

interest it is drawing. The 

reason for this is that Mark 

describes in candid and 

vivid detail what he and 

his buddies experienced 

as they made their way 

across the country on their 

Honda CB 360 T motorcycles. 

They rode in rain and 

snow. They were sometimes 

cold, wet, hungry 

and tired. They slept in 

a tent under the stars 

for nights on end. They 

hiked. They argued. They 

met celebrities, including 

Muhammad Ali. They saw 

monuments and historical 

sites and national parks. 

They forged new friendships, 

verifying, Mark says, 

the truth of Honda’s slogan 

“you meet the nicest 

people on a Honda.” 

Mark set as his themes 

for the book “think big,” 

“dream and keep dreaming 

until they come true,” “be 

nice to people,” and “thank 

God for all His blessings.” 

Now, as then, he believes 

America is “a great country.” 

It is great even when 

things turn ugly, as they 

did one night in New 

Orleans when Mark, Steve 

and Tom were kibitzing 

with some women at 

a club, Crazy Shirley’s. 

Outside, after escorting the 

women away and returning 

to their bikes, they 

were jumped by two men 

they’d seen in the bar. They 

men had been giving them 

dirty looks. 

Spreading the the Joy Joy of of Precious Sounds to to a a second 

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Dr. Dr. Rancourt will will be be splitting her her time time until until a 2a nd 2audiologist nd can can be be hired hired for for 

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* 401-349-0456 * website * website under under re-construction 

Mark DerMugrditchian, author of 4 Strokes West, prepares to talk about his 

book at the Northbridge Senior Center. 

“They were carrying 

pieces of lead pipe as they 

walked towards us,” Mark 

writes. “Things had gotten 

very serious, very fast. 

They stopped ten feet away. 

‘So you boys like stealing 

other men’s girls, huh?’” 

one of them said. 

A fight ensued. 

Mark, Steve and Tom 

prevailed. 

“We came from wholesome, 

happy families that 

had led to our generally 

positive outlook on 

life,” Mark writes. “But 

it seemed like we were 

always running into people 

who were looking for 

problems.” 

As he put it to his pals in 

bed, afterwards, “I’m just 

sick and tired of being bullied 

or pushed around.” 

This was an exception, 

however. Most of the 

people Mark and his pals 

encountered were gracious, 

kind and helpful. 

After nine months 

and 22,300 miles, he had 

to write the story, even 

though it took a while to 

get it published. 

It’s a good one and he is 

working hard to promote 

the book. 

“I have an interview 

with Jan Lewis (host of Be 

My Guest on Upton Community 

Television), a presentation 

at a big Armenian 

church in Watertown 

that could involve over one 

hundred people and after 

that maybe another one at 

a church in Watertown and 

an interview on Worcester 

cable in October,” he says. 


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or 774-232-2999. 

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LMT Oil is not new to 

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The company has been 

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but owner Tom Dolan has 

been doing service work 

on heating systems and air 

conditioners for 11 years. 

The company is small — 

with six employees — and 

family owned, and loves being 

part of the community. 

“We are a small, family 

owned business but we are 

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our community, so we are 

always looking for experienced 

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Dancause. 

Company president Thomas Dolan named the company after his three 

children; Lillian, Madison and Thomas 

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system breakdowns. 

endorsements. Must have DOT Medical Card. 

With the colder months ahead, LMT Oil offered 

some advice for customers: 

• Get a heating system tune-up — it will ensure you get the maximum 

performance out of your heating system. 

• Open shades and drapes when the sun is out to help warm your 

home. Close them when the sun goes down to reduce heat loss 

A Full Service Oil Company 

through drafty windows. 

24-Hour Emergency Service 

LMT Oil delivers home One recent challenge has 

• Turn down the thermostat at night and when you are away from 

WWW.LMTOIL.COM heating oil, and also does • WE DO been ONLINE the increase ORDERING 

in prices 

service on heating, air 

home; even slightly lowering your thermostat during the day may 

over the last year. 

conditioning systems, and “It’s been difficult for 

save on your heating bill. 

heat pumps. They do installations 

as well. 

customers. We have done 

everyone, especially our 

• Insulate pipes to guard against heat loss and to prevent them from 

But delivering oil isn’t the 

only part of the business 

they love. 

our best to keep our prices 

low so we can be more affordable 

to our customers. 

freezing. 

• Stop heat loss by weather proofing your home. Such as eliminating 

any gaps between your door and threshold. Caulk or re-caulk 

“We love being part of Unfortunately with the rising 

cost of home heating oil exterior spaces between the windows and walls of your home. 

the community. Because 

we live in this community, as well as the diesel we need 

as well, we get to know our to transport to customers, 

• Remove, cover or close air conditioning units and vents when not 

customers, which creates a it has made it difficult. We 

more personal relationship 

in use. 

have encouraged customers 

who are considerably 

with them. Tom‘s kids, who 

the company is named after, concerned about this 

• Do not place furniture in front of radiators; it will block heat from 

go to our local schools, so upcoming winter’s prices 

circulating. 

he likes to be able to give 

back to the school community 

by making donations 

to consider applying for 

Fuel Assistance through the 

Worcester Community Ac- 

• For additional tips they can go to Mass Save to have an Energy 

Audit performed on their home. Mass Save is a helpful program to 

each year. He donates tion Council. We do accept 

money to a classroom each Fuel Assistance customers,” 

many of our customers. 

year to purchase books she said. 

Hopefully these tips can help save customers some money this 

every month for each child LMT Oil can be reached 

winter. 

from the Scholastic Book by phone at 508-434–1335. 

Club,“ said Dancause. 

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Watershed warriors tackle 50th-anniversary Zap cleanup 

BY ROD LEE 

The river is a lot cleaner 

now. 

“When I was growing 

up in the ’70s you 

couldn’t go near it,” Ken 

Bedard of Millbury said. 

“Now I fish for bass.” 

Mr. Bedard was standing 

with Ray Longvall at the 

edge of the parking lot outside 

the River Bend Farm 

Visitor Center in Uxbridge 

on the morning of August 

27th. They were handing 

out trash bags and other 

supplies to people participating 

in a 50th anniversary 

re-enactment of the “Zap 

the Blackstone” cleanup of 

the river that took place in 

1972. 

Described as “the largest 

single-day environmental 

cleanup in American history,” 

the original Zap utilized 

the services of 10,000 

volunteers to pull all sort of 

debris from the Blackstone 

River. 

This year’s effort was 

nowhere near that large in 

scope, in Rhode Island or 

Massachusetts. This Bonnie 

Combs blames on “unfortunate 

timing,” coming as 

summer vacations wind 

down and just before the 

Labor Day weekend. Ms. 

Combs is marketing director 

for the Blackstone River 

Valley National Heritage 

Corridor. 

Mr. Bedard agreed. 

“We’ll take we can get,” 

he said, of the numbers who 

chose to lend assistance this 

time around. 

“We’re sending them to 

Plummer’s Landing and 

Lookout Rock,” he said. 

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Clockwise from above: Zap 50 in Whitinsville: Julie Blair, Bo Daley and 

Katie Mitchell hand out cleaning supplies at the Whitinsville Plaza. All are 

members of the Rotary Club of the Blackstone Valley; Zap 50 in Northbridge: 

Lyndsay Kelly and Catherine Fianna with Tommy Morin from the Department 

of Conservation and Recreation; Zap 50 in Uxbridge: Ken Bedard, 

right, and Ray Longvall coordinated cleanup efforts from the River Bend 

Farm Visitor Center; Zap 50 in Rockdale: Bill Morris and Laura Hutchinson 

pick up debris along the railroad tracks. 

“I’m a Board member 

of Zap and on the steering 

committee of Zap, and I am 

on the Board of Directors of 

the Blackstone River Watershed 

Association (BRWA),” 

Mr. Bedard said. 

Mr. Longvall is with the 

Department of Conservation 

and Recreation. 

“I help coordinate DCR 

farm events,” Mr. Longvall 

said. 

They pointed to what was 

happening on August 27th 

as “a cleanup and a greenup” 

of the entire watershed, 

which is essentially all of 

the land that drains into the 

Blackstone. 

Ms. Combs had previously 

predicted in a 

conversation with the 

Blackstone Valley Xpress 

that the biggest turnout for 

Zap 50 would occur in the 

town of Grafton. She was 

right. Working in collaboration, 

the Grafton Garden 

Club and the Grafton Land 

Trust put out an early call 

for residents to help collect 

trash along local waterways 

that feed into the Blackstone: 

in South Grafton 

alone, where representatives 

of the two organizations 

were gathered at the 

former Fisherville Mill 

on the 27th, these include 

Cronin Brook, Big Bummet 

Brook and Bummet Brook, 

Axtel Brook, Quinsigamond 

River, Miscoe Brook, 

Bruce’s Brook, Flagg Brook 

and McNamara Brook. 

“Grafton is super 

energetic about this,” Ms. 

Combs said. “They are going 

to blow me away” with 

their effort. 

Talking about Grafton’s 

role on the 27th, Helen Rawinski 

Blazis, who grew up 

in South Grafton, said “you 

drive by and you wouldn’t 

see” evidence of the need 

for the cleanup, “but the 

river knows. 

“As a kid I remember 

what it was like. The river 

was pink and purple and 

there was all the suds. 

When I saw osprey, I knew 

ZAP 50 


508-372-9023 

833 Providence Road, Whitinsville, MA


ZAP 50 


and power-point presentation 

she offers to the public, 

including one coming up 

on September 15th at the 

Asa Waters Mansion in 

Millbury Center. The event 

is free. It starts at 7:00 p.m. 

A celebration of the 50th 

September 10th from 11:00 

a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Ms. Blazis was planning 

to be there. 

She is pleased that today’s 

Blackstone is something to 

be proud of, that people can 

fish in, paddle on, hike and 

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Zap 50 in South Grafton: Members of the Grafton Garden Club and Grafton Land Trust with signage marking the 

occasion of the 50th-anniversary cleanup. 

the river was back; and this 

morning we saw a bald 

eagle!” 

Ms. Blazis said her mother 

“got to write a book;” 

entitled “Zosia: Immigration 

and Industry along the 

Blackstone River,” the book 

is named after Ms. Blazis’s 

grandmother. It provides 

impetus for a re-enactment 

anniversary of Zap the 

Blackstone—dubbed “The 

Great 2022 Blackstone River 

Revival Zap 50,” was held at 

the Slater Mill Historic Park 

in Pawtucket on Saturday, 

bike along. 

“It’s a Class B river now,” 

she says. 



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Women and a network add up to a recipe for success 

BY ROD LEE 

Individually, Alise Breton, 

Pat Baker, Carol Dauphinais, 

Heather Elster, Pat 

Hurton and other members 

of the executive committee 

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of the Women’s Success Network 

are an impressive lot. 

Collectively, in pursuing 

the mission set out when the 

organization was founded 

with a push from Jeannie 

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If you want to increase natural lighting and improve the 

energy efficiency and curb appeal of your home, 

skylights are a great tool. Skylights come in many 

shapes and sizes, and can be customized to fit the 

unique dimensions and slope of your roof. Shine 

Construction Inc. is an experienced skylight expert, 

so for help finding the perfect skylights for your home, 

don’t hesitate to call our knowledgeable specialists. 

years ago, they are a powerful 

tool for networking and 

a dynamic force for good in 

the community. 

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Ms. Breton, who chairs 

the group, is vice presidentretail 

director/social media 

manager with Millbury Federal 

Credit Union (MCU)— 

and a rising under-40 star. 

Ms. Baker is a senior vice 

president and operations 

administrator with Uni- 

Bank. Ms. Dauphinais is 

owner and operator of the 

Grafton Country Store. Ms. 

Elster is executive director 

of the Whitin Community 

Center. Ms. Hurton is a tireless 

entrepreneurial-minded 

woman and main torch 

bearer for the WSN’s goals, 

which are to “support, unite 

and inspire” its members 

with events, programs and 

opportunities to connect. 

As Ms. Elster puts it “Pat is 

our inspirational leader and 

organizer.” 

Ms. Hebert of course is 

president and CEO of the 

Blackstone Valley Chamber 

of Commerce, of which the 

WSN is a part. 

Ashley Daviau and Jessica 

Muradian are also on the 

WSN’s Executive Committee. 

As the Women’s Success 

Network looks toward a 

resumption of business after 

the summer break, there 

are such happenings on 

the calendar as a cruise of 

Webster Lake, “Commerce 

on the Common” in Grafton, 

“maybe mentoring of 

women coming out of foster 

homes” and a breakfast with 

a keynote speaker, Ms. Hurton 

said on August 25th. 

Karen Spencer, executive 

director of Girls on the Run 

Worcester County, relishes 

her involvement with the 

WSN and speaks highly of 

the impact it is making. 

“I know Heather Elster 

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508.278.3300 

A member of the Executive Committee of the Women’s Success Network, 

Carol Dauphinais, left, has operated the Grafton Country Store for approximately 

eight of its forty-two years in business. 

Right: Heather Elster, executive director of the Whitin Community Center, 

says that while members of the Women’s Success Network “all have significant 

roles in the companies we work for, our subcommittees in the WSN 

enable us to share the workload.” 

through the Whitin Community 

Center and she 

asked me to join the group 

and her committee (Community 

Support). She talked 

about the female empowerment 

piece of it and she 

thought it would be a good 

partnership for us. The 

community outreach piece 

appealed to me, and the 

networking. I think we don’t 

do enough of this.” 

What Ms. Spencer likes 

best, though, is helping 

people. 

“There is always a family 

in need or a veteran in 

need,” she says. 

New mothers too, for 

whom the WSN recently 

ran a collection drive, as the 

organization is planning to 

do as well for senior citizens 

who may need assistance 

with housing, oil payments 

and other issues. 

Members of the WSN 

came to the group in different 

ways. 

“About five years ago 

I met Pat Hurton at a 

Chamber event and she 

mentioned they had started 

a network and asked if I was 

interesting in resurrecting it 

because it was struggling,” 

Ms. Breton said. “We really 

go off of the Chamber and 

the Chamber’s membership. 

It’s definitely given me an 

opportunity to create [relationships] 

that go beyond 

business. In such a maledominated 

industry, I want 

women mentors. We are 

working on the mentoring 

part of it right now.” 

Ms. Dauphinais was also 

recruited by Pat Hurton. 

“Pat came here to interview 

me for a spotlight and 

how I survived Covid-19. 

Our doors were closed for 

three months but we were 

open on the inside, providing 

people with Easter 

baskets and then baskets for 

Mother’s Day too. It was just 

myself and my daughter.” 

Ms. Dauphinais quickly 

embraced the Women’s 

Success Network, in part 

as a way to see how other 

women businesspersons 

were doing. 

“I know how hard it is 

to own a business. You are 

operating 24/7 and if I can 

help out any other business 

I want to do that. If the 

Women’s Support Network 

can be a little branch of It 

Takes a Village, you are going 

to grab that opportunity. 

“Pat Hurton is awesome. 

She kind of roped me in 

with her sweet talk!” 

The WSN is just one of 

a number of organizations 

Ms. Elster belongs to. One 

of these is the Chamber. She 

is a member of the BVCC’s 

Board of Directors. 

She is pleased to be a part 

of the WSN. 

“It was a little challenging 

to get it going right before 

the pandemic but once we 

formed subcommittees 

we got rolling and I just 

brought a new member onto 

my subcommittee,” Ms. 

Ester said. 

Unlike other networking 

groups, “we get in the dirt 

and dig together,” she said. 

“Packing boxes and bags. 

It’s more informal. Business 

after Hours can be a 

daunting.” Having a chance 

to meet at The Tavern in 

Grafton and then go shopping 

at Commerce on the 

Common (in November), 

“that was fun. 

“We planted tulip gardens 

and we will be doing that 

again in October. We are 

starting a mentoring initiative. 

We have worked with 

4H and the Girl Scouts. 

Much of what we do happens 

at the subcommittee 

level. We do a lot and we’re 

excited and passionate 

about it, about making a 

difference.” 

For more information 

about the Women’s Success 

Network and how to join 

the group, go to www.blackstonevalley.org. 



774-232-2999.

Once-popular restaurants, 

now closed and forgotten 


BY ROD LEE 

Every so often, as has 

again been the case in 

recent days, the subject 

of all the restaurants in the 

Blackstone Valley that have 

been lost to time comes up. 

Several of these, including 

the Klondike Inn on 

Providence Road in South 

Grafton, have been shuttered 

and for all intents and 

purposes abandoned for 

years. 

Not until the topic of 

the disappearance of these 

once-popular dining establishments 

is addressed in 

conversation does the full 

picture of their unfortunate 

fate come into clearer focus. 

There is the Klondike, 

there is Sammy’s (formerly 

Riverside and before that 

the Bungalow) in Northbridge, 

along with Jube’s in 

Whitinsville, the Blue Jay 

in Sutton and of course the 

Cocke ’n Kettle in Uxbridge 

which is the one whose 

status is most intriguing. 

With the exception of 

Jube’s in the Whitinsville 

Plaza at Plummer’s Corner, 

which only of late shut its 

doors, and the Blue Jay, 

which was ravaged by fire 

and subsequently became 

the site of the new Sutton 

Police Department building, 

all are showing telltale 

signs of neglect and ruin. 

In August of 2020, in 

a post on Facebook, Cliff 

Valarose, a member of the 

Blackstone Valley Reminiscent 

Society, asked for 

recollections of the Klondike, 

which he said had been 

closed for more than twenty 

years. 

“Tom Remillard cooked 

there for years,” came one 

response. 

From Janneke A. Schotanus 

came the observation 

that she had looked into 

buying and renovating the 

property “as a massage and 

wellness center” with “a 

yoga barn.” 

Susan Boutiette Ellbeg, 

a neighbor of the former 

Klondike, noted that the 

property is owned by 

the Cheng Du family of 

Westborough and that the 

liquor license is still active. 

But nothing has happened 

with it and the grounds are 

overgrown and the building 

is in disrepair. 

The Klondike was famous 

Classic & Gourmet Pizzas Paninis 

Piadinas Salads Gluten Free 

27-C Galaxy Pass, (next to Market 32) 

Sutton, MA 

Open: Tues.-Fri. 11:30-9:30; Sat. 4-9:30; Sun. 11:30-9 

(508) 917-8182 

for its fish ’n chips, prime 

rib and banana cream pie— 

among other fare. 

Nick and Marge Sampson 

and the Sampson 

family owned and operated 

the Cocke ‘n Kettle until 

its closure in 2008. It was 

subsequently purchased 

by Odisefs “Tom” Tsimogiannis 

of Harry’s Pizza in 

Whitinsville for $781,000 

in 2014. 

The Cocke ’n Kettle 

was renowned for both 

its atmosphere with dark 

woods and studded leather 

chairs and its menu, which 

included corn fritters (popovers) 

that people still talk 

Online ordering 

about, French onion soup 

and much more. 

It was also a frequent 

destination for birthdays, 

anniversaries and weddings; 

and meetings of the 

Blackstone Valley Chamber 

of Commerce. 

Contacted a few days ago 

and asked if anything was 

developing with the Cocke 

’n Kettle, Mr. Tsimogiannis 

said “no news is good 

news.” He then added “I am 

a very private person and 

don’t want to talk about it.” 

What’s interesting is that 

in the case of the Klondike, 

Sammy’s and the Cocke ‘n 

Kettle there is not even any 

evidence that the properties 

are being marketed. 

Signs posted at the Cocke 

‘n Kettle declare it is private 

property and say “no trespassing.” 

Sammy’s when it was the 

Riverside, before Sultan 

Salahuddin bought it, was 

owned by brothers Al and 

Larry Vinca, who were 

friendly and who made 

improvements to the old 

Bungalow; among these was 

a new bar. 

The Riverside was open 

for lunch and dinner. 

Sammy’s had established a 

good reputation for pizza, 

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Clockwise from above: The Cocke ‘n Kettle in Uxbridge, closed since 2008; 

Sammy’s Restaurante in Northbridge, closed since around 2015; The Klondike 

Inn in South Grafton, closed for more than two decades. 

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pasta and seafood. 

All five of these establishments 

are fondly 

remembered and curiosity 

remains about what will 

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774-232-2999. 

HAWK 

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WEDNESDAY 

THRU 

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Visit 

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• Apples 

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• Specialty Sauces and Salsas 

• Apple Dumplings 

• Jams/Jellies 

• Maple Syrup 

• Dessert Breads 

• Fruit Pies 

• Honey 

83 Carleton Rd., 

Millbury, MA 

508-865-4037 

New England 

Steak and Seafood 

Casual Elegant Dining and Banquets 

PRIME RIB AND STEAKS 

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HEALTHIER BAKING 

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Our 46th Year! 

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Appetizers 

Fresh Jumbo Shrimp .................... $1.50 ea. 

Stuffed Mushrooms .................. $11.95 

French Fries......Sm. $3.95.....Lg. $5.95 

Stuffed Clams (3)........................ $8.95 

Mozzarella Sticks (8)................... $8.25 

Chicken Tenders (6) .................... $8.95 

Potato Skins (4) .......................... $8.50 

Calamari w/banana pepper ...... $10.95 

Fried Pickles ............................... $7.95 

Egg Rolls (3) ............................... $7.95 

Boneless Buffalo Wings (6) ......... $9.95 

Onion Rings ................................ $7.95 

Fried Mushrooms w/Horsey ........ $7.95 

Jalapeno Poppers (8) .................. $7.95 

Nacho Grande One Size ............. $10.95 

Wing Dings ............................... $10.95 

Coconut Shrimp ........................$12.95 

Surf 

Shrimp Scampi over Pasta ............ $17.95 

Fried Shrimp w/ff & Coleslaw ........$19.95 

Fried or Baked Haddock w/ff & slaw ...$13.95 

Fried Clam Strip Dinner w/ff & slaw .$12.95 

Scallop Roll w/ff & slaw ................$13.95 

Smelts w/ff & slaw .......................$12.95 

Fried or Baked Scallop Dinner w/ff & slaw $24.95 

Fried Whole Belly Clam Dinner w/ff & slaw .$24.95 

Fisherman’s Platter w/ff & slaw ....$24.95 

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Baked Seafood w/ff & slaw ...........$24.95 

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Do you notice something 

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about a year’s worth of recipes, 

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My few past attempts at 

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They’ve been forgettable 

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at worst. So, I tend to avoid 

baking anything that requires 

it. 

However, with fall being 

the season when students return 

to learning new things, 

it seems like the perfect time 

to try such recipes. YouTube 

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Soups & Salads 

French Onion - Clam Chowder ..... $5.95 

Caesar Salad .............................. $7.95 

Add Chicken ............................ $10.95 

Garden Salad .............................. $6.95 

Lobsters 

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this recipe for honey-baked 

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Bulkie $8.95 Sub Roll $10.95 

Meatloaf - Tuna Melt - Pastrami - Ruben 

French Dip - Turkey Club - Sausage 

Tuna Salad - Chicken Salad - Italian 

Fried Haddock - Steak & Cheese 

Twin Chili Dogs w/ Cheese $6.95 

Turf 

Twin Pork Chops w/pot & veg ........$10.95 

Mile High Lasagna w/garlic bread .$11.95 

Shepherd’s Pie .............................$10.95 

American Chop Suey .......................$8.95 

Liver & Onion w/pot & veg...............$9.95 

Meatloaf w/pot & veg .....................$8.95 

Quesadilla - Cajun Chicken .............$9.95 

Steak ....$11.95 - Sauteed Veg. ..+$1.00 

NY Sirloin Steak w/pot & veg.........$19.95 

Sausage Cacciatore over Pasta w/garlic bread $10.95 

Chicken Parm over Pasta w/garlic bread $12.95 

Wheelock Burgers 

Morning Glory (egg, bacon, cheese) $10.95 

Cowboy (onion ring, BBQ sauce) $10.95 

Build Your Own - $7.95 / Sautees +$1.00 / 3 slices bacon +$1.00 / L,T,O +$1.00 

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damage. Reducing inflammation 

and avoiding free radical 

damage can also help prevent 

chronic diseases. 

The tiny seeds, which are 

harvested from large sunflowers, 

have other benefits as 

well. They can lower your risk 

of heart disease. They might 

also help to lower blood pressure, 

cholesterol and blood 

sugar. 

HONEY-BAKED SUNFLOWER 

DINNER ROLLS 

Ingredients: 

3 Cups of All-Purpose Flour 

Saturday, Sept. 24 

APPLES 

THE HARVEST IS IN 

Pick Your Own Apples In September and October, Call The Farm! 

VISIT THE FARM FOR: 

• Just Baked Pies 

• Cider Donuts 

• Cheese 

2 Teaspoons of Instant Yeast 

½ Teaspoon of Salt (Optional) 

1 Cup of Warm Water (120 degrees 

to 130 degrees) 

1 Tablespoon of Light-Tasting 

Olive Oil 

Topping Ingredients: 

6 Teaspoons of Honey 

6 Tablespoons of Unsalted Sunflower 

Kernels 

Directions: 

In a large bowl, combine the 

flour, yeast, salt, olive oil and 

water until the mixture is smooth 

and somewhat sticky. 

Cover the bowl, and let the 

dough rest and proof in a warm 

place for about 30-45 minutes. 

Once the dough has been 

proofed, punch it down. 

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

St. Roch’s 

Church 

334 Main St., Route 12, 

Oxford, MA 

1791 Southbridge Rd., Warren, MA 

5 min. from Sturbridge - 148 N. follow signs 

(413) 436-7122 Open 10 am - 6 pm 

cmgaleone15@gmail.com 

Oktoberfest returns to 

Douglas Oct. 1 

Divide the dough evenly into six 

separate units. 

Knead each one on a floured 

surface, and form each one into 

a roll. 

On a parchment or foil-lined 

baking sheet, drizzle 1 teaspoon of 

honey over each roll. Then, sprinkle 

each roll with 1 tablespoon of 

sunflower kernels. 

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 

minutes. 

*Please Note: Honey is unsafe 

for infants, so this recipe shouldn’t 

be made for anyone under oneyears-old. 

Hopefully, this easy 

healthier recipe for dinner 

rolls can be a re-introduction 

to baking with yeast for you 

as well. Happy (healthier) 

baking, and happy learning! 

Oktoberfest is back and 

bigger than ever! There 

was a time when they 

raced horses down Main 

St., Douglas. This year, on 

Saturday, October 1, we will 

once again be closing Main 

Street (and Depot Street) to 

traffic and opening it up to 

our friends and neighbors! 

From 9a.m.-4p.m. we 

will have live music, games, 

rides, food, a car show, fundraisers, 

and little dog races. 

New for this year is an 

all-ages pinewood derby 

race with a $300 prize 

for fastest car and $100 

prize for “best in show.” 

This year we will feature 

local brewing phenom 

Greater Good in our beer 

tent, with music from the 

Rusty Spike and the Brian 

James Quartet. We are also 

bringing back our authentic 

soda jerk experience, a 

second train, and tricycle 

racing for all ages. 

Kooman Lumber will be 

providing a hay ride from 

The Douglas Elementary 

and Middle Schools to the 

event, and additional 

parking will be available 

at Soldier’s field to make it 

easier than ever to park and 

attend the event. 

If you are interested in 

being a vendor, volunteer, 

or performer at Douglas 

Oktoberfest, contact 

us through our website, 

facebook page, or our 

email, douglas_octoberfest@yahoo.com. 

We can’t wait to see you 

on October 1st in Douglas 

for Oktoberfest! Follow our 

Facebook page: facebook. 

com/douglasoctoberfest for 

the most up to date schedule 

of events. 

FREE 

1/2 DOZEN 

CIDER 

DONUTS 

CLIP 

COUPON 

with this coupon & purchase 

Good thru Sept. Tues.-Thurs. only


Happenings! 

NOTE: Community bulletin 

board-type items are welcome 

for inclusion in the Happenings! 

section of the Xpress newspapers. 

Please allow enough lead time for 

publication. Emai your calendar 

or event notice to rodlee.1963@ 

gmail.com. 

UPCOMING AT INDIAN RANCH 

IN WEBSTER: 

October 8, Jamey Johnson Live in 

Concert, 1:00 p.m. 

Tickets are available at www. 

indianranch.com, by calling 1-800- 

514-3849 or at the Indian Ranch 

Box Office. 

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 

• The Auburn Historical Society 

and Museum, 41 South St., in 

conjunction with the Ebenezer 

Learned DAR Chapter, is hosting an 

exhibit to celebrate Constitution 

Week. The museum is open 9:30 

a.m to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and 

Tuesday to view this display. 

THROUGH OCTOBER 2 

• The Big E, Massachusetts’ state 

fair, continues in Springfield. 

THROUGH OCTOBER 29 

• An art exhibition featuring 

alcohol and ink paintings by Linda 

Littleton will be on display in the 

café gallery of Booklovers’ Gourmet, 

72 E. Main St., Webster. A reception 

for the artist is scheduled 

for Friday, October 14th from 4:00 

to 6:00 p.m. Call 508-949-6232 for 

further info. 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 

• The Douglas High School Celebration 

Graduation Committee is 

hosting a pasta dinner fundraiser 

at Douglas High School, 33 Davis 

St., from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Included 

are pasta, meatballs, sauce, 

salad and breadsticks donated by 

Olive Garden; also desserts. Cost 

is eight dollars for adults and five 

dollars for children under twelve. 

■A Halloween-themed Paint Night 

with Jean Walker will be held at 

Booklovers’ Gourmet, 72 E. Main 

St., Webster from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

Paint your own wooden picket 

fence in a fun, seasonal design just 

in time to display for Halloween. 

The finished piece is four-foot tall 

and four slats wide. Cost is $39. 

Space is limited. Call 508-949- 

6232 to register. 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 

• The Village Congregational 

Church’s Harvest Festival, a local 

tradition, will be held from 9:00 

a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the Town 

Common in Whitinsville. Rain 

Date is Sunday, September 25th 

from noon to 4:00 p.m. This event 

features arts, crafts, plants, a food 

court, farmers market products, a 

bounce pad, entertainment, children’s 

activities and games, music, 

a large variety of raffle prizes and 

a special handmade quilt raffle. 

VCC is looking for volunteers and 

vendors. Call 508-234-7901 for 

further details. 

• The Friends of the Uxbridge Free 

Public Library, 15 N. Main St., are 

hosting a Book and Bake Sale from 

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Homebaked 

pies, cakes and cookies 

and an assortment of children’s, 

young adult and adult books will 

be available. There will also be a 

Treasure Table of “really cool items.” 

• The St. Vincent de Paul Society 

of St. Mary’s Church, 77 Mendon 

St., Uxbridge, will host its annual 

Friends of the Poor Walk/Run to 

help those in emergency situations 

wo are struggling to make ends 

meet. The event starts at 9:00 a.m. 

Registration is in the parking lot 

behind the parish hall. Donations 

can be made online at www. 

fopwalk.org for St. Mary’s Uxbridge 

MA. For more information, 

contact Donna at 508-278-2226. 

• A Fantasia Drag Show will take 

place at Samuel Slater’s Restaurant 

at Indian Ranch in Webster at 

7:00 p.m. Call 508-943-3871 or go 

to https://indianranch.com/events 

for further info. 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 

• A seminar, “Health Care and Your 

Retirement,” is being offered at 

the Gladys E. Kelly Public Library, 

2 Lake St., Webster, in advance of 

Medicare Open Enrollment, which 

begins October 15th. Registration 

is at 5:45 p.m. The seminar starts 

at 6:00. The increasing cost of 

health care is a growing concern 

for current and future retirees. 

In fact, thirty years ago, retirees 

spent almost twice as much on 

food as health care. Now the 

amounts are nearly equal. Dennis 

Antonopoulos, a financial advisor 

with Edward Jones, and Lynne 

Mussulli, a Medicare specialist, will 

be presenters, discussing these 

topics: Medicare coverage and 

traditional medical expenses longterm 

medical expenses and strategies 

for addressing uncovered 

expenses. Register for the seminar 

by September 23rd by contacting 

Karen Rieser at 508-832-5385 or 

karen.rieser@edwardjones.com. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 

• Open Sky Community Services 

will host a free Health Fair at the 

Whitin Mill, 50 Douglas Road, 

Whitinsville, from 10:00 a.m. to 

4:00 p.m. This event will feature 

a variety of free exercise classes 

including Brave Yoga, Beatz Dance 

Studio instruction and Tai Chi with 

Ron Allen. Exhibitors representing 

different areas of health and wellness 

will be present: Nutritionist 

Michelle Mix from Hannaford, 

students from the Blackstone 

Valley Vocational Technical High 

School Health Services shop, 

Special Olympics Massachusetts 

representatives and others. There 

will be a chili cook-off and healthy 

snacks. Those interested in helping 

out at the Health Fair are asked to 

contact Shannon Gwinn at 774- 

922-7577 or Shannon.gwinn@ 

openskycs.org. 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 

• The Blackstone Valley Chamber 

of Commerce’s “Back to Business” 

breakfast meeting with Attorney 

General and gubernatorial candidate 

Maura Healey appearing as 

guest speaker will be held from 

7:15 to 9:30 a.m. at the Charles F. 

Minney VFW Post, 16 S. Main St., 

Millbury. Go to https://blackstonevalley.org 

for more information or 

to register. 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 

• Nick Bosse and the Northern 

Roots will appear at Samuel 

Slater’s Restaurant at Indian Ranch 

in Webster. Showtime is 8:00 

p.m. Call 508-943-3871 or go to 

https://indianranch.com/events 

for more info. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 

• Douglas’ Octoberfest will be held 

from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the 

area of Main and Depot streets, 

with live music, games, rides, 

foods, a car show, fundraisers and 

little dog races. New this year is 

an all-ages pinewood derby race 

with a $300 prize for fastest car 

and a $100 prize for best-in-show. 

Local brewer Greater Good will 

be represented in the Octoberfest 

Beer Tent, featuring music by 

Rusty Spike and the Brian James 

Quartet. Returning are the event’s 

soda-jerk experience, a second 

train, and tricycle racing for all 

ages. This year, Koopman Lumber 

will be providing a hay ride from 

the Douglas elementary and 

middle schools to the event, and 

there will be additional parking at 

Soldier’s Field. Prospective vendors 

can obtain more information by 

visiting Douglas Octoberfest’s 

American country music singer and songwriter Jamey Johnson, whose hits 

include “The Dollar” and “That Lonesome Song,” performs at Indian Ranch 

in Webster on October 8 at 1:00 p.m. 

website, at facebook.com/douglasoctoberfest 

or by emailing 

douglas_octoberfest@yahoo.com. 

• An Historical Walking Tour of 

Whitinsville with Ken Warchol 

starts at Northbridge Town Hall 

at 10:00 a.m. and continues 

until noon. Arrive by 9:45 a.m. 

Pre-registration for this event is 

WIN TICKETS TO THIS 

SHOW! MORE INFO 

ON PAGE 31 

required. Contact Mr. Warchol at 

508-680-3440 or kenwarchol2@ 

msn.com. 

• The Sutton Historical Society will 

present a Wagon and Cart Show 

from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the 

HAPPENINGS! 


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OUTDOOR - INDOOR 

6 A.M.-4 P.M. 

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Selling Space 508-839-2217 www.graftonflea.com 

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ARLINGTON’S SHOWPLACE of ENTERTAINMENT 

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HAPPENINGS! 


M.M. Sherman Blacksmith Shop, 6 

Singletary Ave. 

• Dudley Grange #163 will host an 

Apple Festival at its grounds, 139 

Center Road, Dudley. Vendors are 

welcome. Contact Karen-Beth at 

508-341-6289 to reserve a spot. 

• Live acoustic music with Cameron 

Sutphin will be presented from 

2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Booklovers’ 

Gourmet, 72 E. Main St., Webster. 

Donations will be accepted and 

CDs will be available for purchase. 

Cameron Sutphin is an American 

singer and guitar player. In 2017, 

as a solo act, he released his debut 

Nashville-recorded CD Heartbreak 

Town. 

SATURDAYS, OCTOBER 1, 15 & 

NOVEMBER 5 

• An Introduction to Digital Photography 

workshop series led by 

‘Bil’ Gardiner of William Gardiner 

Photography in Worcester will be 

held at Booklovers’ Gourmet, 72 E. 

Main St., Webster, from 10:30 a.m. 

to noon. Cost for the entire series is 

$75. Contact deb@bookoversgourmet.com 

or call 508-949-6232. 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 

• The New England Country Music 

Club presents live music by Crossfire 

at the Progressive Club, 18 

Whitin St., Uxbridge. Doors open 

at 12:30 p.m. with entertainment 

from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. www.facebook.com/NECountryMusicClub. 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4 

• An Evening with Physic Medium 

Leo McCarthy will be held at Booklovers’ 

Gourmet, 72 E. Main St., 

Webster, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. 

Cost is $40 per person and limited 

to the first ten attendees. 

BACK TO BUSINESS BREAKFAST 

WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL 

MAURA HEALEY 

Thursday September 29, 2022 

Charles F. Minney VFW Post 

16 S Main St, Millbury, MA 

Registration at 7:15 | Program at 8:00 

The BVCC September kick off 

Chamber breakfast will feature 

Massachusetts Attorney General and 

Gubernatorial Candidate Maura 

Healey as our keynote speaker. We 

are pleased to welcome her to bring 

us up to date on issues within the 

Commonwealth and touch upon 

what she sees for the future of 

Massachusetts. 

Take advantage of this opportunity 

to speak one on one with the 

Attorney General during the Q&A 

and get her insight on issues that 

matter to you, your business, and 

your community. 

Member: $40 

Non-Member: $45 


• An Indian Prince lake tour will 

take place at 9:45 a.m. Call 508- 

943-3871 or go to https://indianranch.com/events 

for more info. 

• Upton VFW Post 5594 will wrap 

up its summer series of flea 

markets at 15 Milford St. (Rt. 14). 

Spaces are $10 each or $15 if a 

banquet-sized table is needed. 

Parking is free. Call David Kennedy 

at 508-529-3314 or visit the Post’s 

Facebook page for more details. 

OCTOBER 8-9 

• “The Battle for the Airfield WWII 

Re-Enactment” will take place at 

the American Heritage Museum, 

568 Main St., Hudson. This is a 

WWII living history event with 

over 350 re-enactors representing 

several branches of Allied and Axis 

military in two large-scale battles 

daily. Re-enactor encampments 

will be open all day for both Axis 

and Allied soldiers. There will also 

be a WWII veterans roundtable 

daily in the hangar. Tank rides 

will be available all weekend for 

an additional charge. Visit www. 

americanheritagemuseum.org for 

more info. 

OCTOBER 9-23 

• The Friends of the Simon Fairfield 

Public Library in Douglas will 

conduct a fall online auction, with 

all proceeds doing toward the 

Library Building Fund. The Friends 

are seeking donations of crafts, 

services, gift baskets, antiques and 

“what-have-you” for this event. For 

more information, visit mysfpl.org. 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 

• Duranarama will take place 

at Samuel Slater’s Restaurant at Indian 

Ranch in Webster. Show time 

is 8:00 p.m. Call 508-943-3871 or 

go to https://indianranch.com/ 

events for more info. 

Register at www.blackstonevalley.org/events 

Questions? Contact Liz O'Neil at loneil@blackstonevalley.org 

Meet Maura Healey... 

Maura Healey is running for Governor to 

bring people together and build an 

economy that helps every family thrive. 

Prior to her election as AG, she served as a 

business lawyer at Wilmer Hale, before 

joining the Attorney General’s Office as 

chief of the Civil Rights Division. There, she 

led the first state challenge to the Defense 

of Marriage Act and stood up to the banks 

that took advantage of Massachusetts 

homeowners during the mortgage crisis. 

As Attorney General, Healey has protected 

student borrowers and homeowners from 

predatory lenders, sued Exxon Mobil for 

lying about climate change, and held 

Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family 

accountable for their role in fueling the 

opioid epidemic. Her office has saved 

taxpayers more than $7 billion and $4.5 

billion in energy costs by taking on the 

utility companies. 

She’s the oldest of five children raised by 

their mother, a school nurse, in Hampton 

Falls, New Hampshire, and she played 

basketball professionally in Austria after 

graduating from Harvard. 

An original painting by award-winning Millbury artist Michael Graves will 

be among the items up for purchase during the Friends of the Simon Fairfield 

Public Library’s Online Auction, October 9-23. Open bidding for Mr. 

Graves’ painting and such other featured items as a Harry Potter signed 

first edition, a handcrafted knife by Jim Saviano, beautiful gift baskets, 

gift certificates, vacation packages, antique and vintage items and items 

of local historical significance has started. The Friends thank sponsors for 

donations that make this year’s auction catalog the best ever. All proceeds 

benefit the library’s building fund campaign including handicapped access. 

Go to https://mysfpl.org to place your bid(s). 


• St. Patrick’s Fall Recycling event 

will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 

1:00 p.m. at 7 East St., Whitinsville. 

Profits will benefit upcoming YIA 

(Youth in Action) service projects. 

There will be on-site paper shredding, 

electronics recycling for a fee 

and a collection of bottles and cans 

and textiles. For more information 

and pricing, call 508-234-5656 or 

email officesupport@mystpatricks. 

co. Cash preferred. 

• A Harvest Supper to benefit the 

Auburn Historical Society and 

Museum will be held at Pakachoag 

Church on Pakachoag St., Auburn, 

at 6:00 p.m. The menu is roast 

pork, seasonal vegetables and 

apple crisp. Patrons can dine in or 

dine out. There will be gift baskets 

for sale and a 50/50 drawing. 

Tickets are $15 each and may be 

purchased at the museum, 41 

South St., on Tuesday or Saturday 

between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. 

Tickets may also be purchased by 

calling 508-832-6856 or with a 

check to the museum, 41 South 

St., Auburn 01501. Tickets must be 

purchased by October 8th. Baskets 

will be on view at the museum 

the morning of October 15th 

and tickets for the 50/50 may be 

bought then too. Winners do not 

have to be present for the drawing 

and will be notified. 

OCTOBER 15-16 

• Waters Farm Days, a fall tradition, 

will take place at 53 Waters Road, 

Sutton, offering attendees an 

opportunity to learn about New 

England farm life in the 18th and 

19th centuries. Highlights include 

tours of the farm house and the 

maple sugar house, a blacksmith 

at work and shingle making. There 

will also be tractor pulls, displays 

of farm equipment, a car show, 

farm animals, children’s activities, 

crafters and more.

September 2022 

The Yankee Xpress / Blackstone Valley Xpress September • www.theyankeexpress.com 23, 2022 • www.blackstonevalleyxpress.com • www.blackstonevalleyexpress.com 

• The Blackstone Valley Xpress Page 131 

Keep Your Family Healthy and Safe! 

The roof is one of the most important 

components of your home, so it is vital 

to take care of it properly. 

Mold: Since a roof leak adds moisture to a home, mold 

can start growing in your attic. Mold doesn’t just look unsightly; 

it can also lead to several health issues. 

Slip -and-fall incidents: A roof leak can result in a puddle 

on the floor, putting you and your family members at 

risk of slipping and falling. 

Higher energy bills: A roof leak can also increase your 

energy bills - all the water from the leak can saturate the 

insulation in your attic and prevent it from doing its job. 

Fire hazard: A leaky roof can pose a fire threat if it reaches 

the electrical wiring in your home. 

Damaged home structure: If a leak isn’t addressed soon 

enough, it can lead to structural damage to your home. 

Roof leaks are nothing to mess around with. Contact Shine Construction to keep your 

family healthy and safe by fixing or replacing your roof today! 

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Page 2 The Yankee Xpress / Blackstone Valley Xpress • www.theyankeexpress.com • www.blackstonevalleyexpress.com 


Prepare your garden for 

winter’s onslaught 

Individuals who don’t 

live near the equator 

or in another warm 

climate know that 

winter will rear its 

chilly head this year. 

Cold temperatures 

and snowy conditions 

may be excellent for 

skiing and sledding, 

but gardeners recognize 

these conditions 

are not ideal for their 

plants. 

The inevitable 

slowing of activity in 

the garden during 

fall marks a time to 

shift attention from 

constant plant care 

to preparing the 

landscape for next 

season. It may be 

tempting to simply 

let Mother Nature 

take over, but a little 

pre-winter TLC can 

ensure gardens make 

it through winter unscathed. 

Remove spent plants 

Decomposing organic 

material is the basis 

for compost and other 

fertilizers. However, 

vegetable plants that 

are left to sit can lead 

to decay in the garden. 

Decaying plants 

can serve as hosts 

for pest populations 

and diseases. Rotting 

vegetables also can 

drop unwanted seeds 

into the soil, which 

eventually can strip 

nutrients that normally 

would go to next 

year’s crops. 

Ornamental plants 

and perennials can 

be cut back in fall. 

Cut down stalks and 

remove leaves. 

Plant a cover crop 

The gardening resource 

This Is My 

Garden recommends 

planting a cover crop 

to set the stage for a 

successful spring. A 

cover crop protects 

the soil and can 

return nutrients to it. 

When the soil is bare 

during winter, weed 

seeds can easily blow 

in and lie in wait, 

ultimately becoming 

a problem during the 

Adding a layer of mulch around plants can insulate 

roots and the soil against hard frosts. 

ensuing year. Cover 

crops can include 

clover or field peas, 

which will increase 

the levels of available 

nitrogen. 

Amend the soil 

Fall is a perfect time 

to add soil amendments, 

such as manure 

and compost. 

These fertilizers will 

add nutrients and 

break down gradually, 

enriching the soil 

over the winter. 

Replenish mulch 

Gardeners may have 

added mulch around 

shrubs and other 

areas of the landscape 

early in the 

season because it is 

attractive. But mulch 

also does much to 

reduce water loss 

and protect the soil 

from erosion. It may 

inhibit weed growth 

as well. Replacing 

mulch when the 

mercury drops can insulate 

the soil, which 

helps to regulate soil 

temperature. A thick 

layer of mulch around 

root vegetables left in 

the garden can offer 

protection against 

hard frosts. 

Divide bulbs 

Divide plant bulbs 

and plant them 

where you want flowers 

like daffodils and 

tulips to grow in the 

spring. 

Prune dormant plants 

Wait until plants are 

dormant to prune 

them and adjust their 

shape. Most shrubs 

and trees should be 

pruned in late winter, 

right before new 

growth. 

Move potted plants 

Bring delicate plants 

into a sheltered area, 

such as a greenhouse 

or indoor garage, so 

they can continue 

to thrive during the 

winter. 

Fall and winter still 

provide opportunities 

to spend time in the 

garden. At this point 

in the year, gardeners 

can prepare landscapes 

for the next 

season. 

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Page 3 

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Page 16 The 4 Blackstone The Yankee Valley Xpress •/ www.blackstonevalleyxpress.com Blackstone Valley Xpress • www.theyankeexpress.com • September 23, 2022 • www.blackstonevalleyexpress.com 


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• Apricots are a relative of 

the peach, and they can be 

ripened just like a peach can -- 

in a paper bag on the counter. 

They should be refrigerated 

when ripe. 

• “I went to a tag sale and 

purchased a set of really cute 

flowerpots for barely anything. 

I like them so much that I am 

using them inside my house. 

They are holding utensils in 

the kitchen, and remotes and 

other odds and ends in the living 

room. They are great!” -- S.I. 

• Laundry baskets can be your 

best friends when decluttering 

the house. Go from room to 

room collecting the clutter in a 

laundry basket, then bring it to 

a central location to sort and 

redistribute items that belong in 

each room. 

• When purchasing school 

supplies, remember that paper, 

pencils, etc., typically aren’t on 

sale mid-year, so stocking up 

is a good idea. Just make sure 

the deal you are getting is a 

good one. Then put it away for 

distribution later! 

• Pint-size water bottles are 

great for refilling with milk. The 

milk boxes at the grocery store 

are so expensive, and this way, I 

can control how chocolatey the 

chocolate milk is. -- C.C. 

• Add these to the list of items to 

eliminate the odor of cooking cabbage: 

a heel of bread, a whole 

walnut or a pinch of baking soda. 

* To travel with pleated skirts, use 

this packing trick: Turn the skirt 

inside out and straighten all the 

pleats. Then tape the bottom so 

that all the pleats are held together. 

Next, feed the skirt into a 

leg of pantyhose with the foot cut 

off. You end up with a nice tube, 

which you can tuck into the sides 

of your luggage. 

* When traveling for more than a 

few days, stick your plants into the 

bathtub with a little bit of water. 

They soak it up, and you don’t 

have to have someone come over 

and water your plants. This will only 

work for a week or less, though. -- 

John McF. 

* I keep grocery lists on my computer. 

When I am going to go 

shopping, I print out the list and 

fold the paper in half. Then I slip 

my coupons into the fold. Keeps 

them handy when I am shopping. 

-- Reader 

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A beginner’s guide to fall 

planting and maintenance 

Spring and summer are 

perhaps the busiest 

times of year for gardeners. 

However, fall 

also is a prime time to 

tend to gardens. 

The tree and bare root 

retailer Bower & Branch 

advises that soil temperatures 

in many regions 

of the country may still 

be warm enough to 

encourage root growth 

well into the start of 

winter. Furthermore, fall 

is often the ideal time to 

plant, fertilize and keep 

a garden going or to 

get a head start on next 

year’s bounty. 

Here are some tips to 

make the most of the 

fall gardening season. 

• Think about fall annuals 

and bulb planting. 

Near the end of September, 

start planting 

cool-weather-loving 

pansies and violas for 

pops of color as summer 

flowers fade. Also, it’s a 

good idea to stock up 

on bulbs that will bloom 

in the months to come 

before they sell out in 

stores. Wait until the 

temperatures really cool 

down before planting 

them in desired spots for 

spring sprouts. 

• Sow salad seeds. Lettuce, 

spinach, radishes, 

and arugula tolerate 

cooler temperatures. Try 

new and interesting lettuce 

varieties and enjoy 

salads well into the fall 

season. 

• Take inventory of 

the sun. Positioning a 

garden carefully means 

maximizing hours of 

sunlight, which begin 

to dwindle in the fall. 

Experts say gardens 

grow best in sunny locations 

that receive six 

hours of direct sunlight 

each day. This is where 

container gardens can 

be helpful, as they allow 

gardeners to move 

plants into spots that will 

get ample sunlight. 

• Fill in landscaping 

gaps. Some fall plants 

can add color around 

the landscape and 

brighten up homes to 

add curb appeal. In 

addition to pansies and 

violas, asters, kale and 

chrysanthemums are fall 

blooms. Keep in mind 

that mums can come 

back year after year. So 

take them out of those 

flower pots and get 

them into the ground. 

They can be enjoyed 

next year as well, sprouting 

in early spring and 

developing leaves and 

buds through late summer. 

• Clean up unwanted 

growth. Fall is an ideal 

time to cut back spent 

vegetable plants and 

get rid of errant weeds. 

Rather than bagging 

leaves, mow them with 

a grass catcher and 

then add the mix to a 

vegetable garden as 

an excellent soil insulator. 

The nitrogen and 

carbon will fertilize the 

soil, enhancing growing 

possibilities and limiting 

weed growth. 

• Propagate plants in 

the fall. As temperatures 

gradually begin to cool, 

start taking cuttings from 

perennials, gathering 

seed pods from azaleas 

and rhododendrons 

and dividing hardwood 

cuttings, says the resource 

Gardening Know 

How. Consult with a garden 

center or horticulturist 

on the proper ways 

to propagate stems 

using rooting hormone 

and other techniques. 

• Continue to water 

plants. Water is essential 

in the fall and winter as 

roots can still be growing. 

Gradually reduce 

watering duration as 

plants go dormant. 

Fall planting and 

maintenance can 

extend gardening 

season and improve the 

chances of growing a 

healthy spring garden. 

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Fireplace trends help create 

attractive, comfortable rooms 

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Fireplaces are useful 

features in a home. 

Fireplaces are sources 

of ambient heat and 

also add style to indoor 

spaces. 

Fireplaces can complement 

just about any 

interior style. Fireplaces 

can be traditional and 

burn wood or connect 

to a home’s natural gas 

supply for on-demand 

ambiance. 

What’s more, fireplaces 

may come in vented 

or ventless varieties, 

depending on homeowners’ 

preferences 

and what is allowed 

by community building 

codes. That means a 

chimney or flue may not 

be needed Ñ expanding 

the list of rooms 

where a fireplace can 

be installed. 

Certain trends have 

emerged among 

fireplace fans in recent 

years. Here’s a look at 

what’s getting consumers 

fired up about these 

home decor elements. 

• Minimalist style: Many 

fireplaces are designed 

in neutral colors with 

minimal trim that directs 

focus on the fire and not 

the appliance. When 

the fireplace is not in 

use, it blends in with 

surroundings and will not 

compete for attention 

with other design elements. 

• Convertible fireplaces: 

Homeowners can 

choose between open 

or sealed fireplaces. A 

convertible fireplace 

enables homeowners to 

have the best features 

of these options. A 

convertible fireplace 

can be converted to 

wood from gas, or the 

opposite, in as little as 30 

minutes. 

• Nature-inspired 

materials: Natural 

stone continues to be 

a material of choice 

in fireplace surrounds. 

Light colors work well for 

a fireplace, and also fit 

with today’s lighter color 

interior design preferences. 

Natural stone 

also works perfectly with 

both contemporary and 

rustic decor. 

• Vintage fireplaces: 

Vintage continues to 

be a buzzword in 2022, 

and the choice to go 

vintage also applies 

to fireplace styles. A 

room decorated in 

vintage elements can 

be complemented with 

a vintage fireplace or 

one designed to look 

vintage. 

• Integrate into wall 

decor: Fireplaces that 

are built right into a 

wall save space. One 

can have a television 

and a fireplace on the 

same wall. These types 

of fireplaces work well in 

modern home designs. 

Other fireplaces may be 

built into bookshelves or 

other wall features. 

Fireplaces can 

improve the appeal of 

a home. Various trends 

are popular this year, 

making fireplaces highly 

coveted features.




7 characteristics of 

modern houses 

Homes contain a variety 

of components that 

appeal to homeowners 

with different ideas 

about the perfect place 

to call home. That starts 

with the style of a home. 

Buildings are classified 

according to share 

components. A Craftsman 

style home will 

have a covered porch 

with a set of wide base 

columns, while a Cape 

Cod home is often defined 

by a gabled roof 

and dormer windows. 

Modern houses, which 

are sometimes called 

contemporary homes 

even though the terms 

are not interchangeable, 

will have their own 

sets of unique characteristics. 

Here’s a look 

at seven features that 

make modern homes 

unique. 

1. Minimalist approach: 

Contemporary and 

modern homes both 

employ an approach 

that leans toward minimalism, 

including clean 

design lines. Spaces are 

open and airy without 

the clutter of too many 

ornate architectural 

details. While modern 

homes may have 

some curvature to their 

design, contemporary 

ones are all about an 

angular look. 

2. Neutral color palette: 

Modern homes tend to 

utilize a neutral color 

palette. Modern homes 

may use ‘earthy’ elements, 

such as wood 

and brick, in ways 

that do not look rustic. 

Contemporary homes 

rely on a color palette 

of black and white with 

shades of gray or other 

neutral colors. 

3. Geometric shapes: 

Modern homes have 

strong horizontal and 

vertical elements that 

showcase geometric 

shapes in their designs. 

Contemporary homes 

often have flat roofs, 

while modern homes 

may not. 

4. Large, unadorned 

windows: Most modern 

homes showcase a lot 

of natural light by utilizing 

large windows that 

are not covered up by 

heavy window treatments 

or elements like 

shutters and thick trims. 

Large windows are the 

focus of the interior and 

shift attention to the 

view outdoors. 

5. Open floor concept: 

A hallmark of modern 

interior design, the open 

concept floor plan 

removes many of the 

walls that tend to separate 

common areas of a 

home. This helps to foster 

the spread of natural 

light and maintains the 

emphasis on simplicity 

of design. 

6. Smart elements: 

Thanks to the proliferation 

of smart technology, 

smart homes are 

cropping up with greater 

frequency. While 

smart devices can be 

included in any home 

style, they tend to feel 

like they were designed 

specifically for modern 

homes. In a similar vein, 

modern homes may 

include environmentally 

friendly elements, such 

as solar panels, upcycled 

materials, added 

insulation, and energy 

efficient lighting. 

7. Updated kitchen 

spaces: The clean 

lines and attention to 

technology and open 

space generally extends 

to modern kitchens. 

Modern kitchens tend 

to feature efficient, 

top-tier appliances with 

additional storage and 

space amenities that 

keep the room from 

feeling cluttered. 

While some may 

consider modern homes 

austere, many others are 

right at home among 

their clean lines and airy 

spaces.

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Signs your gutters 

are in need of repair 

Fall is a great time to 

tackle projects around 

the house. The weather 

each fall allows homeowners 

to make improvements 

to their 

homes’ exteriors without 

worrying about extreme 

heat or cold, while interior 

projects like painting 

are made easier because 

homeowners can 

open the windows to 

allow for proper ventilation. 

Fall also marks a 

great time to prepare 

for upcoming projects 

that can make winter 

work that much easier. 

For example, fall is a 

great time to take stock 

of your gutters so you 

can address any issues 

before leaves begin 

to fall or the first snowstorm 

touches down. 

Compromised gutters 

can contribute to water 

issues in basements 

and adversely affect a 

home’s foundation if not 

addressed immediately, 

so it behooves homeowners 

to learn the signs 

that gutters are in need 

of repair or replacement. 

• Gutters hanging off 

the home: Gutters were 

once installed predominantly 

with spikes. 

However, many industry 

professionals now install 

gutters with hanger 

brackets. Why the 

change? Spikes loosen 

over time, leading to the 

gutters hanging off the 

home. That can contribute 

to serious issues 

if left untreated. Gutters 

hanging off the home 

need not necessarily be 

replaced, but rather secured 

to the home, ideally 

with hanger brackets 

instead of spikes. 

Brackets hook into the 

front of the gutter and 

are then screwed into 

the fascia of a home. A 

professional who specializes 

in gutter repair 

can perform this task 

relatively quickly, and it’s 

an inexpensive yet highly 

effective solution. 

• Gutter separation: 

Gutters that are no longer 

fastened together 

can leak and contribute 

to issues that affect the 

home’s foundation, siding 

and appearance. 

Clogs and the accumulation 

of debris can 

cause gutters to separate 

because they are 

not designed to hold too 

much weight. Replacement 

of separated gutters 

may or may not be 

necessary depending 

on how big the problem 

is and the condition of 

the existing gutters. If 

replacement is not necessary, 

separated gutters 

may be remedied 

by securing the joints, 

another relatively simple 

and inexpensive fix. 

• Peeling exterior paint: 

Paint that appears to be 

peeling off of your home 

may indicate that water 

is seeping over the edge 

of the gutter closest to 

your home. When that 

happens, water is coming 

down the side of the 

house, causing the paint 

to peel. In such instances, 

replacing the gutters 

is often necessary. 

• Basement flooding: 

Not all signs of deteriorating 

gutters are 

outside a home. Many 

a homeowner has been 

flummoxed by flooding 

in their basements, 

and such flooding can 

be caused by aging, 

ineffective gutters. That’s 

because deteriorating 

gutters sometimes allow 

water to leak near the 

foundation of a home, 

contributing to basement 

flooding. 

Fall is an ideal time to 

inspect gutters and have 

any issues fixed before 

leaves begin to fall or 

harsh winter weather arrives. 

Get those 

fall projects done 

before the 

snow flies! 

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Gourds, squashes and 

pumpkins, oh my! 

Halloween takes place 

during a time of year 

characterized by earthen-colored 

chrysanthemums, 

leaf-lined walkways 

and crisp autumn 

air. As colorful as the 

costumes children wear 

for trick-or-treating may 

be, nature’s beauty is 

unsurpassed this time of 

year, and the scores of 

pumpkins, gourds and 

squashes on display 

only add to that colorful 

melange. 

The Cucurbitaceae 

family may be best 

known for pumpkins, 

squash and gourds, but 

there actually are 800 

species that belong to 

this family. While they 

share many of the same 

properties, these fruits 

each have their own 

unique attributes. 

The main differences 

between squashes, 

gourds and pumpkins 

is their intended purposes 

- whether they’re 

ornamental or edible. 

Squash 

Squashes come in summer 

and winter varieties. 

Winter ones do not 

actually grow in the 

winter; in fact, they’re 

harvested in late summer 

and early fall, but 

the name references 

the hard shell casing 

that protects the tender 

pulp inside. Zucchini are 

summer squash because 

their outer flesh is 

tender, while butternut, 

acorn, spaghetti, and 

hubbard squashes are 

winter squashes because 

they feature a 

tough skin. Even though 

it takes some effort to 

crack that shell, the 

dense, nutrient-rich flesh 

inside is well worth the 

workout. 

Gourds 

Gourds are essentially 

ornamental squashes; 

they aren’t cultivated 

for eating. Instead 

they are bred to look 

beautiful and unique in 

autumn centerpieces. 

Types of gourds include 

autumn wing gourd, 

warted gourds, turban 

gourds, and bottle 

gourds. Each gourd is 

unique in its shape and 

color. 

Pumpkins 

Pumpkins come in 

ornamental and edible 

varieties. Even though 

all pumpkins can be 

consumed, some taste 

better than others. Small 

pumpkins tend to be 

decorative because, 

according to Nutritious 

Life, they do not have 

enough meat inside 

to make them worthy 

of cooking. However, 

sugar pumpkins are best 

for baking and cooking 

favorite recipes, states 

the resource Pumpkin 

Nook. 

The festive hues and 

flavors of squashes, 

gourds and pumpkins 

are one more thing that 

makes Halloween and 

autumn special. 

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Grafton’s Business Scene – September 2022 

BY CHRISTINE GALEONE 

It’s not unusual for big 

businesses to get involved 

in politics in one way 

or another. And while 

that makes some of their 

employees and customers 

happy, it upsets and angers 

others, causing them to 

go elsewhere. The practice 

divides people. 

But, thankfully, many 

small businesses choose a 

much kinder path. They 

support activities that generally 

unite people and actually 

serve the community. 

This month, in Grafton, 

several local organizations 

and small businesses are 

truly giving back to the 

community and uniting it 

in fun and thoughtful ways. 

Most people agree that 

pets are a blessing and 

deserve to be treated as 

such. A new addition to the 

Grafton Public Library’s 

front lawn should bring joy 

to both pets and people. 

Southwick’s Festival 

of Illumination returns 

with new features 

Southwick Zoo’s popular 

Festival of Illumination 

is back for a 

four-month run, bigger and 

better than ever. 

Belinda Mazur, marketing 

manager for the Festival 

of Illumination, said this 

year’s theme is “Once Upon 

a Time.” The event began 

September 1st and continues 

through December 31st 

from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. 

Ms. Mazur said a VIP 

kickoff held on September 

7th was well-attended 

and featured remarks by 

Sen. Ryan Fattman, Rep. 

Brian Murray, Bill Burns 

of the Performance Food 

Group, Peter Brewer who 

is president of Southwick’s 

“The next time you’re out 

walking your dog on the 

Common, drop by the 

Grafton Public Library’s 

Stick Library located on the 

front lawn near the corner 

of South and Upton Streets,” 

Debby Jackson, the library’s 

administrative assistant, 

wrote in a recent press release. 

“Inspired by a patron 

suggestion and based on the 

take a book, leave a book 

concept of Little Libraries 

around town, the Stick 

Library gives the dogs of 

Grafton a place to take a 

stick to play with or chew 

on and leave a stick behind 

for another four-legged 

friend.” 

Nearby, people are 

invited to come together for 

the Congregational Church 

of Grafton’s 43rd Annual 

Harvest Fair and Apple Pie 

Social. The free event will 

be held on Sunday Sept. 25 

from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 

the church grounds, located 

at 30 Grafton Common. 

Zoo, Past President Justine 

Brewer, Betsey Brewer of 

Earth Ltd. at Southwick’s 

Zoo and Justin Corsa and 

Meng Liu of the Zigong 

Lantern Group. 

Working 

again with the 

award-winning 

Zigong Lantern 

family, the 

Festival of 

Illumination 

will offer zoo 

visitors a look 

at extraordinary 

Chinese 

lanterns utilized 

in larger-thanlife 

exhibits 

to showcase 

myths, legends 

and fairytales 

from around 

the globe. 

Ms. Mazur 

described the 

experience as “a 

journey through forgotten 

stories of myths, legends 

and fairy tales. So amazing!” 

There is also a new twist 

for 2022 that will add an 

exciting component to the 

production. There will be 

live entertainment, Chinese 

acrobats, an Asian marketplace, 

interactive exhibits, 

specialty foods, and more. 

Then on November 26th 

zoo patrons will be able to 

enjoy Southwick’s traditional 

Winter Wonderland 

The event will include live 

music, a yard sale, kids’ 

games and raffles. And 

the apple pies, apple 

crisp, chili and corn 

chowder that the fair 

is known for, along 

with other food and 

beverages, will be 

available to buy. The 

funds raised through 

the sales and raffles 

will help support the 

charities and missions 

that the church supports. 

Recently, several 

local businesses came 

together to support 

the 2022 Small 

Stones Festival of 

the Arts, a festival 

held by Apple Tree 

Arts, the Blackstone 

Valley Art Association, 

the Worcester 

County Camera 

Club, the Shakespeare Club 

of Grafton and Claflin Hill 

Symphony Orchestra. Businesses 

including Off the 

holiday lights in combination 

with holiday-themed 

Chinese lanterns. 

Ms. Mazur recommends 

that those planning to take 

in the Festival of Illumination 

purchase their tickets 

in advance. This can be 

done at www.festivalofillumination.com 

or www. 

southwickszoo.com. 

Common Antiques, Red 

Rock Grill & Bar and Reunion 

Tap & Table donated 

Grafton Public Library’s New Stick Library and a 

Loyal Patron. Photo submitted 

gift cards to support the 

non-profit festival’s Gazebo- 

Palooza’s silent auction. 

And Bonnie Frederico of 

430 Main St., Oxford, MA 

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Bulk Loam • Mulch • Stone • Compost 

Garden Fertilizers • Controls • Repellants 

Grass Seed • Drainage Pipe • Fire Pits 

Bluestone • PA Fieldstone • Granite • Flagstone 

Cobblestone • Palletized Stone • Wood Pellets 

Chimney Supplies • Concrete & Mason Sand 

Concrete & Mortar Products 

UniLock Pavers and Walls 

SellarShop.com, Grafton 

Country Store, Truth Organic 

Spa, Darlene’s Barber 

Shop, Highfields Golf & 

Country Club, Jubilee 

Chocolate, The Bread 

Guy and Pecorino 

Cheese Shop are among 

the businesses that donated 

items, gift baskets 

and services. 

Throughout the 

year, Treasures gives its 

customers the chance 

to help fund students’ 

educations, while buying 

gently-used items 

at bargain prices. The 

North Grafton upscale 

thrift shop that sells 

clothing, furniture, 

gifts and housewares 

already has Halloween 

costumes for sale 

along with some new 

fall items. The shop’s 

proceeds benefit the 

Whitinsville Christian 

School. 

Finally, on Saturday 

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Monday - Friday 7am - 4pm • Sat. 7am - 12pm 

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Delivery 

Available 

registration starting at 9, 

the Society of Saint Vincent 

de Paul conference at Saint 

Mary Church in Uxbridge 

will hold its 3.5-mile 

Friends of the Poor Walk/ 

Run to benefit the work it 

does to help local people in 

need. The walk will begin 

and end at the church, 

located at 77 Mendon Street 

in Uxbridge. Among the 

walk’s sponsors are Koopman 

Lumber, UniBank and 

Savers Bank, which all have 

branches in Grafton. 

Big businesses and 

organizations could learn 

a lot from small ones. Like 

the beautiful New England 

autumn foliage, so many 

of the ones in Grafton 

– including several not 

mentioned in this month’s 

column – have been reaching 

out and brightening 

their community, instead of 

dividing it. 

Contact Christine with 

your business news items at 

cmgaleone15@gmail.com. 

Homeowners 

& Contractors 

Welcome!


BY AMY LECLAIRE 

Luke’s first vacation was 

everything expected— 

and then some. He 

sniffed out the plan on a 

morning that stated the 

obvious. Luggage piled up 

in the kitchen. His parents 

moved with a distinct haste. 

Something wasn’t adding 

up. “Is my family leaving 

me?” 

A month prior, my husband 

had considered just 

that. “Why don’t we find 

someone to watch Luke? 

We’ll be able to do more. 

We deserve a vacation.” 

We would have. We did. 

LIVING WITH LUKE 

Still a puppy—Luke goes on his first vacation 

Yet there wasn’t a destination 

out there comparable 

to the look on my pup’s face 

when we shared the news. 

“We’re going to Vermont 

and Luke can come, too!” 

He grabbed his stuffed avocado 

to share in the joy that 

would be his first vacation. 

“Seriously? You’re bringing 

me?” He wiggled around 

the kitchen, his six month 

old frame resembling 

a small dog or a stocky 

puppy, depending on one’s 

perspective. “Hold on. I just 

have to go pee-pee!” His 

disposition favored the latter. 

He dashed to the back 

yard and returned to the 

garage in record speed. 

Of all the dogs I’ve 

owned, Luke has been my 

easiest travel companion. 

This trip proved no exception. 

He sat regally in his 

travel crate with his head 

lifted out of a “sun roof ” 

created by unzipping the 

top (nylon) section. Now 

tall enough to look out the 

car windows, he appeared 

a dog dressed in a jack-inthe-box 

costume. Then he 

curled up and went to sleep. 

The Green Mountain 

Suite Hotel of South Burlington, 

Vermont sat tucked 

away in a parking lot surrounded 

by gladiolas and 

plush shrubbery. “We’re 

here!” As dogs do, Luke 

sensed our arrival before I 

stated it. Still, he awakened 

with a slowness that has led 

to one of many nicknames. 

“Lazy Luke – we’re here. 

Let’s go check out the hotel.” 

I unzipped the door of his 

bed while he retracted so 

that I couldn’t quite reach 

him, a habit reminding me 

the day we picked him out 

of a litter of three males. 

amyleclaire@hotmail.com 

Luke, “the cutest puppy ever,” settles in at the Green Mountain Suites in Vermont for his first vacation, and spends 

time with mom in Burlington, shopping. 

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SM 

“That’s him.” I knew Luke 

before I actually knew him. 

He was the bashful pup 

in the back of the hatchback, 

buried in 

the warmth of his 

brother. 

After a moment 

of pause, I 

managed to coax 

Lazy Luke from 

the car before — 

nose to ground 

— he obssessed 

on new scents in 

the parking lot. 

The hotel’s front 

entrance boasted a 

set of secure (and 

massive) doors. 

“Who opened that 

door???” Spooked 

by the doors’ 

automation, Luke 

put on his puppy 

brakes. “This place 

is possessed!” 

Making matters 

worse, a staff worker 

maneuvered 

an enormous, 

screeching dolly 

on wheels into the 

same area. “Something 

is definitely 

wrong with this place!” 

The incident reminded 

me of a Scooby Doo 

episode, wherein I played 

Shaggy and my frightened 

pup was about to jump 

up into my arms. His legs 

wobbled like a camel’s while 

I led him to a comfortable 

living room section, and my 

husband tackled check-in 

details. I pet my pup’s head 

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and spoke to him with the 

reassurance of a caring Dog 

Momma. “This is such a 

nice place, Luke.” I cupped 

his frightened face 

in my hands and 

couldn’t believe 

what I saw. My 

pup’s entire head 

shivered as though 

he were seated in a 

freezer. “Oh, Luke. 

I promise it’s going 

to be okay.” Worse, 

his teeth chattered. 

“Poor thing. 

He’s unsure. Still a 

puppy.” A sweet elderly 

couple offered 

condolence. 

We made our 

way up the elevator 

(another possessed 

door?) and Luke 

loosened up upon 

sight of a suite he 

couldn’t help but fall 

in love with. “A sofa! 

And pillows! And 

beds!” He raced 

from room to room. 

“There’s even a toilet 

here!” Room 225 

was making sense. 

“Let’s play!” He 

grabbed his avocado and 

thrashed about the room. 

We relaxed, unpacked and 

enjoyed a night out on the 

town. Little did we know, 

Luke’s skepticism would 

return. 

“Woo, woo, woo, woo, 

woo!!” My husband and I 

snapped awake. The digital 

clock read 12:30 a.m. when 

Luke learned something 

new. Hotels are full of people 

who make creaky noises 

on the other side of the 

LUKE 

continued on page 25


LUKE 


walls. “Luke, you have to go 

to sleep.” We were so grateful 

for the Green Mountain’s 

Suite’s acceptance of our 

pup. We wanted to respect 

the privacy of other sleepers. 

We hauled his bed, a 

plush dog mattress, to the 

foot of our bed. “Come 

sleep with us, Luke.” 

Satisfied, he slept soundly 

through the night and even 

waited for us to get up 

before we all had breakfast 

at the hotel’s outdoor 

courtyard. 

“Can I pet your puppy?” 

The question had a 

domino effect all week 

long. Luke greeted family 

after family. He posed for 

picture after picture, and 

accepted compliment after 

compliment with the grace 

of a movie star. “That is 

the cutest puppy I’ve ever 

seen!” Outdoor restaurants 

became a venue for his social 

circle. Servers brought 

him bowls of water “Does 

he want some ice to go with 

that?” Burlington, VT was 

as delightful as it was dog 

friendly. Shoppers put their 

bags down to kneel beside 

our puppy on vacation. “I 

love his crimped hair!” Hikers 

stopped hiking. “Luke 

Valentino has his own 

Instagram page?” Luke became 

the talk of a town that 

wined and dined him. The 

vacation was a score, yet as 

Luke was about to remind 

us, it wasn’t home. 

We had gone for a stroll 

one morning, and approached 

the sidewalk of 

the front hotel lot when 

Luke stopped in his tracks. 

“What’s the matter, Luke?” 

Then I saw what he saw, and 

watched what he watched. 

Doors slammed. Parents 

unloaded bags. Children 

bickered. A new family 

had just arrived at the 

hotel and their van seemed 

suspiciously open to cute 

puppies. “I knew I shouldn’t 

have dug up the grass on 

Daddy’s lawn!” Luke did 

the math. “I can’t look at 

them. Please don’t leave me 

with that family.” He pulled 

me to the shelter of a shrub 

while I pondered his worry. 

On the day we took him 

from the breeder, we had 

also been in a parking lot. 

He was almost eight weeks 

when we had carried him 

in a basket from the trunk 

of our breeder’s vehicle to 

our own backseat. He sat up 

during the car ride, but was 

uncertain of his new family 

(us) and home at first. 

“Where are you bringing 

me? Where are my brothers? 

Whoa. The outdoors is 

so big.” He dashed straight 

for the comfort of his dog 

crate when we brought him 

inside our home. 

Fast-forward six months. 

Luke has developed an obvious 

trust for us and now 

adores his home. He loves 

to sit out on the front steps, 

curl up to sleep beneath the 

kitchen table, and engage us 

in a game of “chase” across 

the kitchen floor, where he 

finally takes a flying leap 

over the step-down and into 

the family room. 

Had Luke, as he studied 

this family unloading their 

van, subconsciously recalled 

the day he was taken from 

his puppy brothers? The 

vehicle sights and sounds 

were similar. Or do all 

dogs, like pups from a 101 

Dalmation’s film, carry an 

innate fear of being taken 

away in a van by the Cruella 

Deville’s of the world? 

I kneeled by my pup’s 

side. We’ve known each 

other for only six months, 

yet it seemed as though 

we’ve been connected for 

centuries. He snuck glances 

over to the family; then 

stared back up at me. “I just 

want to stay with you.” He 

licked my full mouth and 

chin. I wish I could pick 

him up and flatten him to 

my chest the way I used to, 

but he’s too big. Instead, I 

massage the soft fur behind 

his ears. “You’re stuck with 

me, Luke Valentino.” 

Our ride home was 

smooth, though it felt long. 

After a fun-filled vacation, 

we all just wanted to 

be home. When we finally 

pulled into the driveway, 

one thought crossed my 

mind. 

The grass is greener 

where you dig it. 

Stay tuned for more on 

Living with Luke. Tell me 

your dog story. Write me at 

amyleclaire@hotmail.com 

Follow Luke on Instagram: 

instagram.com/livingwithlukevalentino 

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REAL ESTATE 

Why today’s real estate market isn’t headed for a crash 

BY MARK MARZEOTTI 

Whether or not you 

owned a home in 

2008, you likely remember 

the housing crash 

back then. And news about 

an economic slowdown 

happening today may bring 

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all those concerns back in 

your mind. While those 

feelings are understandable, 

data can help reassure you 

the situation today is nothing 

like it was in 2008. 

One of the key reasons 

why the market won’t crash 

this time is the current lack 

of inventory. Housing supply 

comes from three key 

places: Current homeowners 

putting their homes up 

for sale. Newly built homes 

coming onto the market 

and distressed properties 

(short sales or foreclosures). 

For the market to crash, 

you would have to make a 

case for an oversupply of 

inventory headed to the 

market, and the numbers 

don’t support that right 

now. So, here’s a deeper 

look at where inventory is 

coming from today to help 

prove why the housing market 

isn’t headed for a crash. 

1. CURRENT HOMEOWNERS 

PUTTING THEIR HOMES UP 

FOR SALE. 

Even though housing 

supply is increasing this 

year, there’s still a limited 

number of existing homes 

available. Based on the 

latest weekly data, inventory 

is up 27.8% compared 

to the same week last year. 

But compared to the same 

week in 2019, it’s still down 

by 42.6%. 

So, what does this 

mean? Inventory is still historically 

low. There simply 

aren’t enough homes on the 

market to cause prices to 

crash. There would need to 

be a flood of people getting 

ready to sell their houses in 

order to tip the scales toward 

a buyers’ market. And 

that level of activity simply 

isn’t there. 

2. NEWLY BUILT HOMES COM- 

ING ONTO THE MARKET. 

There’s also a lot of talk 

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about what’s happening 

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Prayer 

being intentional 

about not overbuilding 

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like they did 

during the bubble. 

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because builders today are 

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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy 

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more cautious than the last 

time when they built more 

homes than the market 

could absorb. 

3. DISTRESSED PROPERTIES 

(SHORT SALES OR FORECLO- 

SURES). 

The last place inventory 

can come from is distressed 

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sales and foreclosures. Back 

in the housing crisis, there 

was a flood of foreclosures 

due to lending standards 

that allowed many people 

to secure a home loan they 

couldn’t truly afford. Today, 

lending standards are much 

tighter, resulting in more 

qualified buyers and far 

fewer foreclosures. The time 

around the housing crash 

there were over one million 

foreclosure filings per 

year. As lending standards 

change/tightened since 

then, the activity started 

to decline. And in 2020 

and 2021, the forbearance 

program was a further aid 

to help prevent a repeat of 

the wave of foreclosures we 

saw back around 2008. That 

program was a game changer, 

giving homeowners 

options for things like loan 

deferrals and modifications 

they didn’t have before. And 

data on the success of that 

program shows four out of 

five homeowners coming 

out of forbearance are either 

paid in full or have worked 

out a repayment plan to 

avoid foreclosure. These are 

a few of the biggest reasons 

there won’t be a wave of 

foreclosures coming to the 

market. 

Lastly, although housing 

supply is growing this year, 

the market certainly isn’t 

anywhere near the inventory 

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THE CAR DOCTOR 

Ask dealer to check transmission codes for engine vibration 

BY JOHN PAUL 

Q.I have a 2015 

Kia Optima with 

66,000 miles on it 

which has had all its recommended 

maintenance 

by a dealership. It drives 

really well except in one 

respect. At slower speeds 

in city driving, I experience 

a noticeable engine 

vibration that is sustained 

whenever the tachometer 

remains very narrowly at 

or close to 1100 RPMs. It 

feels like the engine is lugging, 

if that’s the correct 

term. It relents only if I let 

up on the gas or depress 

the pedal further to accelerate 

past the vibrating. 

In other words, I can’t 

maintain a steady speed 

at 1100 RPM without the 

shake. I actually did mention 

this to the dealership 

at my 60,000-mile service, 

but they did nothing to 

diagnose it and I didn’t 

pursue it further. What do 

you think could be causing 

this? 

A.I would go back 

to the dealer and 

have them check 

for transmission codes. 

What you are describing 

sounds like the transmission 

torque convertor is 

staying locked up, this is 

sometimes called “chuggle”. 

Kia did come out with 

an update to a part called 

a damper clutch solenoid 

which may cure the issue. 

In addition, this could also 

be a combination of the 

transmission design and 

the beginning of a very 

slight engine misfire. At 

66,000 miles if one of the 

spark plugs is getting a bit 

worn, this could also exaggerate 

the condition. 

weeks ago, 

my 17-year-old 

Q.Several 

son, purchased a 

car for $4500. The car, 

a BMW, actually seemed 

to be a good deal, but 

he then returned to the 

same seller in the hope of 

getting a different color. 

The second car turned 

out to have a fraudulent 

title as well as an odometer 

that had been turned 

back. We discovered this 

through a Carfax report. I 

was informed by both my 

son and his mother that 

they attempted to get even 

some of their money back 

and return the car, but the 

seller refused and at this 

point may have actually 

even blocked their phone 

numbers. Do you have any 

suggestions as to how we 

might proceed to rectify 

this issue/problem? 

Residential & Commercial Electrical Services 

DEADY 

ELECTRIC 

Inc. 

first thing 

that needs to be 

A.The 

determined is if 

the seller was a legitimate 

car dealer or someone who 

just buys and sells cars 

without a license. The seller 

may be someone who 

just “jumps” titles selling 

a car they purchased 

without re-titling it in 

their name. Depending on 

where you live, state agencies 

rarely get involved 

in private party sales. If 

they are a legitimate car 

dealer you may be able to 

get some help through a 

dealer organization or the 

Attorney General in your 

state. Odometer and title 

fraud are subject to both 

state and federal laws and 

can carry serious fines. At 

this point you may need 

to contact an attorney that 

specializes in automobile 

fraud. 

Q.I have a 2006 Ford 

Mustang convertible 

which is in 

great condition but makes 

a clunking noise which 

can’t be located. I have had 

the car checked over, but 

all the parts seem to be in 

good shape. 

A.I would take one 

more look at all 

of the suspension 

components including the 

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front struts and strut bearings. 

At 16 years old there 

could also be some wear in 

the steering column. Your 

Mustang like many cars 

uses two flexible joints 

that connect the steering 

column to the rack and 

pinion steer gear. If one of 

this joints is worn, there 

will be a clunk. 

Q.I have a 2008 

Toyota Prius with 

155,000 miles on 

it. It is in good condition 

for its age, but it will need 

a catalytic converter. The 

car drives fine, it is just 

noisy. Any idea how much 

I should ask for the car 

and where I should list it 

for sale? 

A.I would list the car 

in www.cargurus. 

com, www.iseecars. 

com and even Facebook 

marketplace. Determining 

the price is a little tricky. 

The going price for this 

model is $7000-$9000 depending 

on condition. I’m 

sure you have a price on a 

new exhaust and catalytic 

converter, which can cost 

up to $2500 depending on 

where you take the car for 

service. I would scan the 

ads on Cargurus, Iseecars 

and other websites and try 

to find a match to your car 

and price it accordingly. 

My guess is around $6500 

is about right but used car 

prices are still crazy. What 

makes this car a bit less 

desirable is with any used 

hybrid potential buyers 

are going to be concerned 

about the hybrid battery 

life. Although the buyer 

may be willing to take a 

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and is an ASE-certified 

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TALES FROM BEYOND 

Multiple spirits haunt the Shanley Hotel — Part II 

BY THOMAS D’AGOSTINO 

Here is the second 

part of the two-part 

series on the haunted 

Shanley Hotel in upstate 

New York. 

In 2001 the property was 

purchased and renovated 

by Salvatore Nicosia. Sadly 

Salvatore passed away in 

2017, and one year later, 

the building was once again 

Now 

accepting 

yard waste 

abandoned and up for sale. 

It reopened under new management 

in 2018 and has 

since become a destination 

for paranormal enthusiasts. 

Connecticut Paranormal 

Research Team founder 

Christine Peer worked with 

Sal at the hotel on weekends 

for eight years. She and her 

husband, Dan, witnessed 

countless paranormal phenomena. 

Autumn Cleaning 

According to Christine, 

in 1915, Dr. Walter Nelson 

Thayer backed his car out of 

the alley between his home 

and the hotel and accidentally 

ran over a boy named Jonathan. 

Jonathan was taken to 

his third-floor room, where 

he died a few days later. His 

body was taken for burial, 

but his spirit remained, and 

to this day, he is one of the 

more active ghosts in the hotel. 

Jonathan’s spirit became 

attached to Christine more 

than the others. The husband 

and wife research team 

would learn much more 

about the Shanley during 

their tenure there. Christine 

stated, “not only are there 

residual haunts, most of the 

haunts are intelligent. Each 

night the occurrences guests 

and [I] experienced would 

always be different. It was 

like the hotel was still in 

operation to the deceased 

that once visited. You never 

knew which spirit was going 

to come through and let 

you know they were there. 

I, along with several guests, 

have experienced seeing an 

apparition somewhere in the 

building, hearing footsteps 

going up and down the 

hallways when everyone is 

in one location together and 

seeing and hearing door 

knobs turning and doors 

opening or closing on their 

own.” 

Christine would help get 

the rooms ready for the arrival 

of guests. She considered 

those moments “quality 

Food and more food at this year’s Big E 

This year’s Big E, running 

from September 16th 

through October 2nd, will 

offer more foods than ever, 

organizers announced. 

New locations set to be part 

of the 2022 Big E are as follows. 

SoulFully. New England 

Avenue. 100% vegan, flamegrilled 

burgers, grilled hot dogs, 

loaded fries and milkshakes. 

Cha Feo. Young Building. 

Various milk teas, Boba teas 

and Thai teas. 

Riceballs Arancini. East 

Road. Beef, veggie, Big Mac, 

Philly, Italiano Riceballs, 

Arancini. 

Ferrindino Maple Farm. 

Better Living Center. Maple 

Cotton Candy and Maple 

Cream. 

Bakery on Brewer. New 

England Avenue. Apple, Apple 

time” with the spirits who 

would often call her name 

or use other ways to let her 

know they were there with 

her. One strange incident in 

particular sometimes happened 

while she was folding 

laundry downstairs. 

She would hear a ball 

bouncing on the staircase in 

the hall. As she approached 

the staircase, she would 

watch the ball roll from the 

third-floor landing, turn the 

corner, bounce down the 

stairs to the second floor, 

and eventually roll into the 

room where she was folding 

the laundry. She would 

carry the ball back up the 

stairs and place it back in 

the room where Jonathan 

died. Within a few minutes, 

the ball would come rolling 

back into the room she was 

working in. It appeared that 

Jonathan felt like playing a 

game. 

One time, while her 

daughters were staying the 

weekend, Christine decided 

to give them a tour of the 

third-floor rooms. As soon 

as they came to Jonathan’s 

Bacon, Blueberry and Pumpking 

Fritters. 

Sassys Sweet Potatoes. 

Roasted Root Veggies, Sweet 

Potato Tacos, Sweet Potato 

Bread, Sweet Potato Pie and 

Southwest Sweet Potatoes. 

The Happy Dough Co. West 

Road. Apple Fries and Apple 

Fry Sundaes. 

Villa of Lebanon. Young 

Building. Baba Ganoush, 

Baklava, Kafta Kabobs, 

Falafel, Hummus, Kataif, 

Kunapa, Meat Pies, Spinach 

Pie, Tabouli. 

Boardwalk Noodles. The 

Front Porch (Inside Gate 5). 

Yakisoba Noodles and Rice 

Bowls. 

The Place 2 Be. The Front 

Porch. Breakfast all day. 

Las Kangris Food Truck. 

Young Building. Yellow Rice 

tomdagostino.com 

room, they all heard a little 

boy’s voice say, “Don’t be 

scared; come in and play.” 

Her daughters became 

frightened and ran back 

downstairs. They would later 

ask to buy toys for the little 

ghost boy so he would have 

some to play with. Guests 

also began to bring toys for 

both Jonathan and Rosie. 

Christine, Dan, and their 

paranormal research team 

continue to make the 

Shanley Hotel their home 

base. They are always excited 

about visiting there because 

they never know who will 

“pop by” to visit and chat 

with them. 

The hotel has 35 rooms, 

secret passages, a basement, 

an attic, quite an illustrious 

history, and plenty of ghosts. 

Guests can bring their own 

equipment, or it is furnished 

for use. The hotel also has 

ghost hunting equipment 

in the gift shop for sale. No 

weapons or alcohol are allowed 

on the premises. For 

more information and booking, 

go to www.thehauntedshanleyhotel.com. 

with Pigeon Peas, Baked 

Pork, Baked Chicken, Green 

Bananas ‘al mojo’ and Seafood 

Salad. 

Kulfi Ice Cream Taste of 

Persia. Food Court. 

Frankie’s Famous Italian 

Frozen Lemonade. Young 

Building. 

Chick-Fil-A. Springfield 

Road. Chicken Sandwiches, 

Wraps and more. 

The West Side Grille, cider 

garden sponsored by Downeast 

Cider. Outside the Young 

Building. Craft Ciders and 

more. 

Ann Maries Candies. West 

Road. 

For more details about 

Massachusetts’ annual state 

fair, a true extravaganza and 

memorable experience, go to 

TheBigE.com.


SPORTS 

Sutton goalie will take her talents to the next level 

BY CHRISTOPHER TREMBLAY 

STAFF SPORTS WRITER 

Playing field hockey 

for Caroline Lambert 

all began in the 

seventh grade. Prior to the 

introduction to the sport, 

she had never picked up a 

stick or thought about the 

sport. When she got to the 

seventh grade in the Sutton 

Public School system 

she was given the chance 

to either play one of a 

minimal number of sports; 

she gravitated toward field 

hockey. 

“Seventh graders were 

allowed to play certain 

sports on the high school 

level,” Lambert said. “A lot 

of my friends were going 

to soccer as that is what 

they had played. I was into 

dance, so I decided to try 

field hockey.” 

As an athlete newly 

introduced to the sport 

Lambert wanted to try 

every position possible 

as she really didn’t know 

where she wanted to play or 

would fit in. It wasn’t until 

she was playing some pickup 

games during the winter 

months with her friends 

to not only stay active but 

improve their skills when 

she first played goalie. It 

didn’t take long and soon 

she was infatuated with the 

position. 

“I love the competition 

of the game and being 

active,” she said. “Playing 

goalie gave me this amazing 

adrenaline rush as I was 

more involved, and I could 

see everything that was 

happening on the entire 

field.” 

As she was entering the 

eighth grade Lambert realized 

that field hockey was 

something that she would 

definitely be interested in 

playing in college so she 

joined a club team, the 

Cape Ann Field Hockey 

Club out of Worcester, so 

she could hone her skills. 

Playing with the club team 

not only helped her with 

her improvement but it also 

eventually led to a verbal 

commitment with the 

University of New Haven in 

Connecticut to play goalie 

with the field hockey team. 

To get to the point that 

the Connecticut school 

would ask her to join their 

team Lambert had to take 

her newfound love and 

learn as much about the 

sport and position as she 

could. During those first 

two years while she was in 

middle school playing for 

the junior varsity team, she 

found that everything she 

was doing was experimental 

as she tried to figure 

everything out. 

Lambert felt that she was 

a good communicator and 

needed to build a trust with 

her defenders. 

“I was working on my 

overall skill set and wanted 

to show them that I trusted 

them as much as they trusted 

me,” the college-bound 

athlete said. “I needed to 

be my best and at that time 

I really didn’t have a lot of 

tools in my toolbox. I was 

young and didn’t know the 

position all that well yet but 

the training with my club 

team really helped me get 

ready for high school field 

hockey.” 

As a freshman entering 

Sutton High School, Lambert 

made the varsity team 

as a back-up goalie despite 

being very nervous. 

“As a freshman she came 

in confident and with a lot 

of experience due to her 

playing year-round and 

attending a lot of camps,” 

Sutton Field Hockey Coach 

Sarah Bellavance said. 

“That year she had such 

a good group of leaders 

above her, and she bought 

into our plans and never 

wavered from what she was 

doing.” 

Sutton finished Lambert’s 

freshman campaign 

15-1-2, earning the number 

one seed in the Division 2 

Central Tournament. The 

Susies eventually lost to 

Oakmont in the semifinals. 

Coming off a successful 

season, Sutton was looking 

to improve upon its semifinals 

appearance, but Covid 

struck, and everything was 

turned upside down. 

“My sophomore year was 

when colleges could start 

reaching out, but I really 

didn’t get to showcase my 

talents that year because 

of the pandemic,” Lambert 

said. “We played the same 

teams that were close to us 

and there was no Sectional 

or State Tournaments. I 

really didn’t feel cheated 

as I was a sophomore with 

two more years, but I really 

felt bad for the seniors that 

missed out on so much that 

year.” 

As a junior last fall and 

now playing under the new 

MIAA power rankings 

Sutton earned a five seed as 

they entered the Division 4 

State Championships. The 

Susies defeated Carver 5-0 

in the first round and then 

edged out Hamilton-Wenham 

1-0 before falling 2-1 

to Ipswich in the Round 

of 8. 

As one of three Sutton 

seniors to take the field 

this fall, Coach Bellavance 

is looking for Lambert to 

be a prominent leader. According 

to the coach, she 

is the voice that drives the 

defense, and the girls look 

up to her. 

“She’s made mistakes 

through the years, but it has 

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Goalie Caroline Lambert is looking 

to finish up her field hockey career at 

Sutton High in strong fashion. 

helped her learn and grow,” 

Bellavance said. “She takes 

constructive criticism to 

heart no matter how harsh 

it may be. She is going to be 

a big part of us bouncing 

back and having another 

good season and making a 

Central Mass run.” 

Coming into her final 

season with Sutton, Lambert 

is hoping to just go out 

onto the field while playing 

the best that she possibly 

can. 

“With only three seniors 

on this year’s team we are 

young, and the year is going 

to be a rebuilding one 

of sorts,” Lambert said. 

“I want to keep the field 

hockey tradition strong at 

Sutton and go as far as we 

possibly can.” 

Despite having a rather 

young team (17 freshmen 

and sophomores) take the 

field this year Coach Bellavance 

firmly believes that 

the team will win at least 

50% of their games and 

qualify for the tournament 

and Lambert will be one of 

the seniors to lead them. 

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Walking tour with Ken Warchol is October 1st 

Longtime Northbridge 

historian and history 

teacher Ken Warchol will 

lead a two-hour walking tour 

of Whitinsville on Saturday, 

October 1st, from 10:00 a.m. 

to 12 noon, taking participants 

back to 1772, when the only 

transportation was horse and 

buggy. 

A time when the only 

source of power was the rivers. 

The time of the American 

Revolution, when Northbridge 

received its town charter and 

Whitinsville was only a small 

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village. 

He will share how the town 

grew into a large thriving 

industrial village with the 

coming of the Industrial Revolution 

following Independence 

from England. He will also 

delve into the Whitin’s family 

role in bringing the Industrial 

Revolution to Northbridge 

and building Whitin Machine 

Works into the largest textile 

machine shop in the world by 

the end of the 1920s with over 

5,000 employees working on 

three shifts. 

Mr. Warchol will give tour 

members insight into the 

social and economic aspects 

of village life by focusing on 

eighteen major buildings in 

the village that characterize 

this. “The architectural 

skeleton is still here to remind 

us of what once was, even 

though the inner workings of 

the village have all changed,” 

he points out. The paternalism 

of the Whitin family is gone, 

but that architectural skeleton 

reminds us of bygone days. He 

will describe how the transportation 

revolution helped 

the village progress. From the 

horse and wagon to the canal 

barge, to the railroad, to the 

trolley, and to the automobile, 

the village kept pace as 

it grew through transportation 

improvements as well 

as power improvements that 

came about. 

“This year is the 250th 

anniversary of the town of 

Northbridge, and this tour will 

commemorate that celebration,” 

Mr. Warchol noted. “We 

also celebrate the village of 

Whitinsville being a part of 

the Blackstone River Valley 

National Historical Park with 

a lot of pride that we reflect an 

important part of the nation’s 

heritage.” 

This free event is sponsored 

by the Northbridge Historical 

Commission. Pre-registration 

is required as space is limited. 

Call Ken Warchol at 508-680- 

3440 or email Kenwarchol2@ 

msn.com and include your 

full name, telephone number, 

and the number of people attending. 

Participants will meet 

at Northbridge Town Hall, 7 

Main St., Whitinsville, MA, 

and should arrive by 9:45 a.m. 

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Retractable & Stationary Awnings 

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Pool Cover Repairs 

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Busy, spooky October at Grafton Public Library 

Ghost stories, LEGO, 

yoga, and… goats? 

There is something 

for everyone in October in 

the children’s room of the 

Grafton Public Library! 

On Saturday, October 

1st, the Tumblebus will 

be parked at the Grafton 

Public Library. Tumblebus 

is a fully padded converted 

school bus that is filled 

with gymnastics equipment 

to provide a safe and fun 

environment for children 

ages 2-7. This program is 

drop-in, first come, first 

served. Only a small group 

of children will be allowed 

to enter the Tumblebus at 

a time. 

Ms. Kayla from Apple 

Tree Arts will visit the 

Library for a Music and 

Movement program for 

children aged two and up 

on Monday October 3rd 

at 10:30am. Registration is 

required. 

Join us for storytime 

every week in October! 

Drop in for Library Babies 

on Tuesdays at 9:15am or 

Toddler Time, for walkers 

through age three, on 

Wednesdays at 9:15am. 

Preschool Storytime is held 

on Thursdays at 9:15am. 

Registration is required. 

On Wednesday, October 

12th at 3:30pm, join 

us at the Willard House & 

Clock Museum for a special 

storytime and a tour 

of the museum’s beautiful 

grounds. This program is 

for preschoolers ages three 

through five. Registration 

is required. 

Young Scientists, the 

STEAM storytime run by 

STEM Beginnings, returns 

in October. Children aged 

three through six will learn 

STEAM concepts through 

hands-on activities, story 

time and simple experiments. 

Young Scientist 

starts on Friday, October 

7th at 10:30am. Registration 

is required. 

The “Young Scientists” 

series is sponsored by the 

YMCA Family & Community 

Partnership (YFCP), a 

Massachusetts Coordinated 

Family & Community 

Engagement (CFCE) Grant 

program funded by the 

Department of Early Education 

& Care and awarded 

to the YMCA of Central 

Massachusetts. 

Older kids can join us 

for Comic Creator Club or 

join one of the three Bookworms 

book discussion 

groups. All four programs 

meet on Tuesday, October 

11th. Please adhere to 

age requirements when 

registering. See graftonlibrary.org/events 

to see 

what books each age group 

will be reading this month. 

Books can be picked up at 

the library. 

Feeling creative? Dropin 

to LEGO Brickbuilders 

every Tuesday in October 

from 3:30-4:30pm. Feeling 

artistic? Drop in and 

create autumnal art on 

Tuesday, October 18th and 

Thursday, October 20th 

from 5:30-7:00pm. 

Join us for a week’s 

work of wellness events, 

partially funded from the 

Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation in partnership 

with the Coalition for a 

Healthy Greater Worcester. 

Mindfulness and Yoga 

for Kids will be held on 

Wednesday, October 19th 

at 4:00pm. Join us for 

a Children’s Movement 

class on Saturday, October 

22nd, at 10:30am. Both 

programs are for children 

aged six through ten. Registration 

is required. Drop 

by the library on Saturday, 

October 29th to feed and 

cuddle baby goats. This 

drop-in program is for all 

ages. Please note–only a 

handful of people will be 

allowed to enter the goat 

pen at a time. 

The library will be celebrating 

the spooky season 

all month long! Drop in 

to create a monstrous craft 

on Tuesday, October 25th 

from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. 

We’ll be telling Ghost Stories 

on Thursday, October 

27th at 6:00pm. We will 

dim the lights and gather 

around our campfire to 

hear some tales to give you 

chills! 

On Halloween, Trick 

or Treat at the Library! 

Celebrate the spookiest 

holiday by stopping by the 

Grafton Public Library 

on October 31 to pick up 

special Halloween treats. 

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passes to Samuel Slater’s Concert Club! Enjoy Samuel 

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with private entrance, reserved table at Samuel Slater’s 

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